Team Lopez – Julia has responded to the consultation on the new St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub and urges all local residents to submit their thoughts here – https://northeastlondonccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/engagement-begins-on-the-new-integrated-health-and-wellbeing-hub-in-hornchurch/
Attached at the bottom of this article is the most up to date presentation on the benefits this Health and Wellbeing Hub will bring.
In her response, Julia stated ‘I am very keen for integrated patient care to be the focus of this Hub, with many more services moved out of Queen’s Hospital into the community so that people can be treated closer to their homes and avoid attendance at or admission to hospital. I also want to see closer working between social, mental and primary care services. ‘
‘With Havering having the highest proportion of elderly residents of any London borough, I particularly welcome the movement of frailty services into the Hub. This will see significantly fewer people having to attend Queen’s Hospital despite not requiring acute treatment or services, therefore freeing up acute services within BHRUT. I believe this will help keep elderly people in their communities and reduce the likelihood of them requiring hospital care.’
‘I am supportive of renal, dialysis and diagnostic units being established in the Hub as this will lessen pressure on Queen’s Hospital and the Hub will be the more appropriate location for these types of care. Not only is this location closer to the majority of patients requiring treatments, but it will also free up expensive space for Queen’s Hospital to improve its A&E services, which have been under substantial pressure for many years. I also welcome the confirmation that GP services will also definitely be at the Hub and know this will alleviate wider issues about access to GPs in Havering and the quality of premises.’
‘I understand that the range of outpatient services which will be provided at the Hub has not yet been finalised. However, I welcome the design of the Hub and the flexibility it will have to adapt to the changing requirements of the local and regional medical requirements over the next 20-30 years. During a recent stakeholder meeting, I also welcomed the assurance that the Hub will be built to be as pandemic-proof as possible, designed in a way that will greatly improve infection control when compared to older buildings.’
‘I welcome the commitment to provide Mental Health services as well as joining up with Local Authority Adult and Children services. Mental Health is something which will be particularly important as we emerge from the pandemic and providing these services in one community location will greatly aid those residents who require this complex care.’
‘I have been campaigning for and championing this project since my election in 2017 but have always been keen to ensure that any new facility is not just focussed on a narrow view of health but takes a more holistic approach to patients' wellbeing. I am therefore very pleased that space will be provided for voluntary groups and the commitment to have a community café and a dementia-friendly communal garden is still in place. These will see the Hub become more than a health centre and be an exceptional example of how space can be orientated towards local healthcare services as well as providing broader social benefits to the community it serves.’
