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We have LIFT off!
Building work is about to start on the latest in a new generation of community health centres
The new Orchard Park NISC (Neighbourhood Integrated Service Centre) will be the seventh centre built in Hull and will be the local hub for a range of NHS and Hull City Council services.
So as well as going to see a doctor, residents will benefit from services normally found at hospital, such as having an appointment with a health specialist or consultant, right on their doorstep.
And then they will be able to do anything from paying Council Tax bills to reporting a faulty street light or road pot-hole to council staff.
Taking care
The new site, along with the other six already completed, is being provided by Hull Citycare, which is a partnership between Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust and Hull-based development company the Sewell Group.
The partnership is delivering the LIFT programme - a 25-year project to channel £75m of public and private sector funds to provide NHS community health centres for the city.
More than 20 per cent of all patients registered in Hull are now seen by GPs in one of the LIFT buildings.
Massive improvement
Located on Preston Road, the Marfleet Primary Health Care Centre was the first LIFT building to open, in November 2005.
"The facility is benefiting both patients and staff," says John Maffin, practice manager of the Marfleet Group Practice.
"We've expanded the range of services we offer, for example, by making much-needed NHS dental treatment available in an area of the city which otherwise would have a shortage of provision.
"The building also provides a more comfortable and spacious working environment for staff."
Commenting on the changes, Roger Soper of the Marfleet Patients' Group said: "We're happy with the new building. It has a much better patient waiting area and the built-in pharmacy makes it easier to process prescriptions and collect medications."
Designs for life
The developments so far are only Phase 1 of the LIFT programme. More will be built in the years to come. Below is a guide to what has been achieved so far:
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Newington Health Care Centre |
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Inside the Longhill Health Care Centre |
Alexandra Road Health Care Centre, West Hull
GP practices: Two
Other facilities: Therapy rooms plus eight consulting rooms, two of which are used to teach Hull York Medical School students
Cost: £2 million
Opened: December 2006
The Calvert Centre, West Hull
GP practices: Two
Other facilities: Hull City Council customer service centre and base for West Area Coordination Team
Cost: £3 million
Opened: December 2007
Longhill Health Care Centre, East Hull
GP practices: Four
Other facilities: A range of treatment rooms, pharmacy, and library services within the waiting area
Cost: £4 million
Opened: August 2007
Marfleet Primary Health Care Centre, East Hull
GP practices: One
Other facilities: A range of consultation and treatment rooms, including ultrasound suite, dental surgery, library service
Cost: £3.2 million
Opened: November 2005
Newington Health Care Centre, West Hull
GP practices: Three
Other facilities: A range of flexible clinical and consulting rooms and exciting art installations which includes artefacts saved from the church which previously occupied this site
Cost: £2 million
Opened: February 2006
Park Health Care Centre, East Hull
GP practices: Three
Other facilities: Eight consulting rooms
Cost: £2.9 million
Opened: July 2007
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Future plans
Plans for the next phase of buildings include further GP surgeries and new Integrated Care Centres, where many services that are currently provided in hospital could be delivered. The PCT is keen to hear your views on the proposals and next month's Hull in Print will include a four page pull-out detailing the plans and giving you the opportunity to have your say. There is also more information on the inside front cover of this edition.
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Working in partnership |
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Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust tel. (01482) 344700 |
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