Citycare has previously delivered 13 health centres under the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme, transforming Hull’s healthcare estate, and improving access and facilities for tens of thousands of patients across the city.
Now, as West Hull Health Hub becomes the 14th building in Citycare’s health portfolio, delivered in partnership with NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and primary care providers, a new model of delivery has been utilised to deliver the latest health estates transformation in Hull for the first time.
Due to the changing landscape for delivery of private finance models across the UK, West Hull Health Hub has been completed using a third-party developer approach by Citycare and investor and public sector partner Community Health Partnerships (CHP), on behalf of the NHS.
The team drew on their key existing knowledge and expertise in the sector to bring the West Hull Health Hub vision to life before the building being handed over to Modality Partnership (Hull) to provide patient services.
The team’s flexibility has proven to be a huge success, paving the way for health and community services to be brought together under one roof in modern facilities at West Hull Health Hub and providing adaptable space to meet future challenges.
Citycare’s Independent Chair and former Health Secretary, and Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson said: “We’re delighted to see the completion of West Hull Health Hub.
“It has taken many years to bring it to fruition but the hard work and dedication of all the partners involved has made this fantastic building a reality, which is truly something to be celebrated.
“As the local estates provider and working in partnership with local NHS and primary care providers, Citycare are the go-to specialists with a proven 15-year track record of delivering these fit-for-purpose models.
“Despite changes in healthcare and the NHS over the years, Citycare is still here and has the flexibility to respond to those changes with a strong, adaptable team. I have no doubt the West Hull Health Hub will bring great benefit to patients in west Hull for many generations to come.”
As a result of the 13 health centres built in Hull, 80% of residents now access more than 100 health and community services from these bases and the facilities have enabled 66% of GP services across the city to meet the latest standard, compared to 15% previously.
The buildings have had a huge positive knock-on effect, including £250 million on the Hull economy thanks to using local labour and supply chain partners, 1,400 new jobs created in construction and 130 apprentices given opportunities to take up new roles.
Citycare also provides wider support to the NHS, including business case planning and strategy work, helping to re-shape services in line with the forthcoming new Integrated Care Systems (ICS).
Under the new approach, the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership will oversee the health and care needs at a regional level, coordinating services, improving population health, and reducing inequalities between groups, keeping residents out of hospital and meeting healthcare needs at a local level where possible.
The West Hull Health Hub is a leading example of this, taking primary care into communities and reducing the impact on acute services.
Community Health Partnerships (CHP), the public sector partner and investor in Citycare, is helping to continue to facilitate future health estate delivery.
Nafees Arif, Executive Director and Investment Management at CHP, said:
“This project demonstrates the flexibility of our partnerships, the expertise of our people, and the strength of our supply chains. CHP are delighted to see the delivery of a new facility which will support the local NHS in providing a broader range of services in a modern primary care environment offering tangible health and wellbeing benefits to local communities.”
