New medical hub for borough

10:25am Saturday 10th May 2008

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A £23m modern health hub will be built at the site of the fomer St Thomas' Hospital near Edgeley.

The hub, approved by the North West Strategic Health Authority and Department of Health earlier this week, is part of government plans to move healthcare out of hospitals and in to community settings.

Stockport NHS PCT chief executive, Richard Popplewell, said on Thursday: "We are absolutely delighted the people of Stockport are going to be among the first in the country to benefit from a new style of care which will address health and lifestyle issues in an appropriate, modern setting.

"We are committed to providing care close to home and to offering responsive, personalised and convenient services with a strong emphasis on quality and safety."

The St Thomas's project was the first in the North West to be considered for funding from the Government's Community Hospital and Service Programme fund.

The new community health hub, which is scheduled to open its doors in 2011, will offer services to the entire population of Stockport. It will be the closest and most accessible treatment centre for around 45 per cent of the population (135,000) and will be open from 7.30am to 11pm every day of the year.

The hub will include the following:

* A primary care centre which will offer a service to 26,000 registered patients from five relocating local GP practices

* A health and well-being centre which will offer personalised health trainer services, a healthy hearts service for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, support for overweight families, a one-stop shop for advice on smoking and alcohol, a psychological therapy centre and a business advisory hub

* A fast track diagnostic and treatment centre which will operate round the clock to support referrals from a range of professionals A state-of-the-art, automated pharmacy which will be proactive in health promotion An education and innovation centre for access by a range of groups, which will have the opportunity to link with Stockport College.

The Department of Health described the scheme as being "visionary and innovative", meeting national and local health objectives and outcomes. It will enhance community healthcare services and address the White Paper objectives of shifting care from hospitals to GPs and pharmacists, delivering care closer to home.

Chief executive of NHS North West, Mike Farrar, said: "This is a good example of how we are moving towards world class healthcare in the North West. That means quicker, easier access to high-tech diagnostics for GPs and their patients and so that we can guarantee that no-one waits longer than 18 weeks to get the treatment they need."