The first brick has been laid for a new £9 million Integrated Care Centre (ICC) which will unite services to provide tailored care for the elderly and combat unnecessary hospital admissions.
The pioneering new development on the site of the former David Lister School in east Hull will primarily treat elderly patients who have been referred by their GP as being at risk of hospital admission – a new approach to this area of healthcare.
Patients will be assessed, have a comprehensive integrated care plan formed and a care coordinator appointed on the same day, with therapists, voluntary services and other specialist services based in one place.
Now, as the scheme progresses, invited guests, as well as children from Estcourt Primary School, were invited to a special event to mark the first brick milestone.
Paul Jackson, Hull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Vice Chair and Chair of the Integrated Care Centre Board, said: “I’m really delighted to see the first bricks being laid for the new Integrated Care Centre.
“We are changing the way we deliver health care for older people in Hull. Health, social care and fire and rescue service teams will work together for the first time to prevent people from going into hospital unnecessarily, and fully support them at home.
“This is an exciting step for everyone involved, including people from the local community who have been a big part of the project.”
Work on the ICC, which will be open seven days per week, is due to be completed in April 2018 and also includes a new home for the east Hull fire and rescue service team currently based at Southcoates Lane.
Specially trained fire personnel will support the rehabilitation and recovery of patients following a period in hospital, building on the success of the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service and health-led Hull FIRST Falls Response Team.
Councillor Steve Brady, leader of Hull City Council, said: “It’s great to see this fantastic project get off the ground and I look forward to seeing its progress throughout the year.
“I am delighted the council was able to make the land available for NHS Hull CCG and Community Health Partnerships (CHP) to develop the Integrated Care Centre.
“The city must continue to evolve its care services to ensure the best possible support is given to its vulnerable residents.
“This new centre is a great step-forward in partnership working which will bring positive changes to the delivery of healthcare. I look forward to seeing the newly-built centre when it opens in 2018.”
The ICC is the first NHS development scheme to get the green light in the region since the announcement of the Humber, Coast and Vale Sustainability & Transformation Plan (STP) vision for out of hospital care.
Department of Health company Community Health Partnerships (CHP) is investing in the building and will also be head tenant.
CHP Developments Director Eugene Prinsloo said: “This service will deliver better patient care through a more integrated and flexible community-based health approach using modern, fit-for-purpose estate.”
Developer Citycare, NHS Hull CCG’s estates partner, has appointed Sewell Construction and Sewell Facilities Management to build and maintain the purpose-built facility, following a detailed market test.
