New Health and Wellbeing Hub opening soon
Residents of Havering and the surrounding areas are set to benefit from a new health and care facility as the St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub prepares to open its doors in September 2024. September will see the first services move into the hub while the other services will join over the following months. This modern, purpose-built Hub will support approximately 250,000 people, offering a comprehensive range of integrated services all under one place, seven days a week.
Transforming Healthcare Delivery
The hub will provide easy access to a range of health, social care and community services all under one roof, including GP services, outpatient clinics, mental health services, community care and diagnostic facilities for earlier cancer diagnosis.
By bringing together a mix of health and care professionals in one place people will be able to get a range of different support from the NHS, the council and local voluntary and community groups all in one visit.
It will also provide space for local voluntary and community groups to deliver a range of activities to support people’s wider health and wellbeing needs, as well as a community café, multi-purpose education and meeting spaces and a sensory, dementia-friendly communal garden.
Comprehensive Benefits for Patients and the community
Key benefits of the Hub include:
- Convenient access to a wide range of services in one location.
- The ability to book appointments and be seen by multiple professionals during a single visit.
- Quicker access to diagnostic services and faster referrals between services so people can be seen and treated more quickly.
- Fewer hospital visits and admissions.
- A convenient location with excellent public transport links and parking.
- Easy access to support from local charities and community groups (eg. exercise clasees, bereavement groups), and social activities — even in the evening and weekends.
- Opportunity to speak to professionals about other issues which may affect their health like housing
- Modern building with local amenities like a community café and sensory gardens
Hornchurch and Upminster MP Julia Lopez was given a tour of the hub as construction work enters its final stages. Speaking after her visit, she said: “Delivering the St George’s NHS hub has been my top campaign priority since 2017, so it is absolutely brilliant that we are now only weeks away from seeing its doors open to patients.
“I want residents to get the very best healthcare, and the hub will be a game-changer on that front. With integrated health and social care services, plus a diagnostics hub that will see thousands more tests and scans delivered every year, St George’s looks set to become a national model of best practice. Not only that, but it creates an opportunity for Queen’s Hospital to remodel the overloaded A&E so that emergency care locally improves too.
“I’m so pleased to see everyone’s collective effort bear fruit, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to the NHS project team for delivering.”
Stay Connected
We will continue to keep the community informed as we approach the opening date and as services begin to move into the Hub. For more information and updates, please visit St George’s Hub.
For further inquiries, please contact nelondonicb.nelcommunications@nhs.net