From 22 November 2021 to 13 February 2022 local people from Havering, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham shared their views on proposals for a new integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub in Havering. NEL CCG, in collaboration with North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), ran a series of virtual Q&A “drop in” events throughout January and February where local residents asked questions and shared their opinions on the project. There was also an online survey available for those who couldn’t attend the events.

The interim report on engagement activities has been submitted to the project board and the final version of the report is set to be published towards the end of the month.

Why do we need an Integrated Health and Wellbeing Hub?

Demand for health and care services is increasing, as a result of our ageing and growing population, with many more people now living with long-term conditions such as heart disease and diabetes and requiring additional support from local services.

It is important that we plan to meet these demands now and for the future. Health and care services need to work together in partnership to meet the needs of local people, with a focus on helping people to access a wider range of services in their local communities to support their wellbeing.

Our approach to delivering this vision is through more joined-up working across services, with integrated health and care hubs as a focal point for people accessing health and wellbeing services. People will be able to receive assessment, treatment and a wide range of support all under one roof.

The Hub is an essential part of our ambition to deliver high quality healthcare services giving patients access to primary care, community services and mental health services delivered in an integrated way.

Background

Health and care partners across North East London have been working together for a number of years to design the Hub which will bring together a range of health, social care and community services under one roof, in a brand-new fit-for-purpose facility in the community.

In autumn 2019, the Government announced it would allocate £17 million towards funding the project. Local GPs have been working with NHS partners from our local Clinical Commissioning Group, North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) to develop the plans.

Planning permission for the development was granted by Havering Council in November 2021.

About St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub

This new community base aims to provide integrated primary, community, mental health and local authority care services on a single, local community site located at the former St George’s Hospital site in Suttons Lane, Hornchurch.

Local people from across Havering and its neighbouring boroughs of Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham will also benefit from health and wellbeing and early prevention services and additional capacity for some services currently based in hospitals.

The Hub design also includes community facilities such as an integrated café and education facilities, community meeting spaces, as well as a sensory, dementia friendly communal garden with a wetland area.

Havering GP and Clinical Lead for the Health and Wellbeing Hub, Dr Atul Aggarwal, said: “The Hub aims to bring together a mix of health and care professionals in a single location to promote more joined up working between the NHS, the council and voluntary and community sectors. People will be able to receive help with keeping well, assessment, treatment, diagnostics and a wide range of support. It will also be a valuable community resources with space for local organisations.

 “We want it to be an innovative, best practice model of integrated health and social care that others can learn from and that local people can be proud of. As well as a range of health, social care, diagnostic and community services available on one site, we expect the Hub to become the catalyst for bring professionals together to develop new, integrated pathways of care that are focused on meeting patients’ needs”.