Issue - meetings

The Board received an update from the Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on the completion of the project to develop an out-of-hospital Hub to deliver clinical outpatient services from Runcorn Shopping City.

It was announced that Phase 1 of the project had been in operation for almost 12 months and delivered Audiology, MSKCATS, Optometry and Orthoptics services, as well as community health services such as vaccination clinics.  It was noted that in the first 10 months of opening, the Hub had provided services to more than 3000 patients across 3 providers.

Phase 2, the Community Diagnostic Centre, was planned to open in December 2023 and would include audiology, sleep studies, ultrasound, respiratory and phlebotomy services.  Phase 3 would include future opportunities as the Centre had the potential to accommodate additional services, these were outlined.

Members’ welcomed the opening of the Hub and that it had been well received by residents.  The following responses were given to questions:

·         The Active Travel Service pilot was now operating (by Wellbeing Enterprises) and was advertised using social media and distribution of leaflets in the Shopping City;

·         The Wellbeing Service provider was appointed by the Liverpool City Region (LCR) – further information on the process for selecting the provider would follow after the meeting as it was not to hand;

·         The location and accessibility of the Hub for residents was welcomed as it could be used by most patients using public transport;

·         The potential of including more services in the Hub was positive;

·         The Hub did not offer drop-in phlebotomy services (which had ceased in the Borough since Covid-19).  There was, however, a new online booking service currently being trialled at two GP’s surgeries.  Despite this it was felt that a drop-in service would be preferred by many residents – these comments would be fed back to the Trust; and

·         The Musculo-skeletal service at the Captain Sir Tom Moore Building was still available.

RESOLVED:  That the presentation be noted.