Date published: 2 March 2024
A pioneering multi-million pound facility designed to help people with their health and wellbeing needs, reduce inequalities and support town centre regeneration has opened its doors for the first time.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held today, Friday, to mark the official opening of the new Living Well Hub, a welcoming and fully accessible ‘one-stop shop’ aimed at empowering residents to live as happily, healthily and independently as possible.
The Town Deal-funded Hub, on Horsemarket Street, is one of the first of its kind in the country and a true collaboration, with 25 organisations and more than 350 staff set to provide a wide range of NHS and non-clinical services under one roof.
Thousands of people are expected to use the three-storey building over the next 12 months, with spaces shared by teams from Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WHH), Warrington Borough Council, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, and support from voluntary and charitable sector partners.
Simon Constable, Chief Executive of WHH, told invited guests at the opening event: “It’s fantastic to see so many organisations represented here today from across Warrington. The Living Well Hub has been a real team effort since its conception four years ago, and is proof that by working together we can achieve great things together, for the benefit of the town.
“Some of the services on offer here at the Hub would previously only have been delivered in a hospital setting, however it’s really important that we’re now able to deliver them in the town centre, providing better access for those who need the most support.
“By doing so we can tackle health inequalities, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the pressure on acute hospital services, while also helping to create jobs and support the regeneration of the town centre.”
The ground floor of the Hub is an inviting community-led space with a café area where Warrington residents can drop in to discuss any issues that may be affecting their health and wellbeing. NHS and non-clinical services will be delivered on the first floor, with several consultation and clinical rooms for use, while the second floor will predominantly be for staff use.
There will be a particular emphasis on providing women’s health services and services for children, families and older people. Maternity (pre and post natal), dementia, mental health, weight management, cardiac rehab and health visitor clinics are among the services being provided, with support from third party partners including Macmillan, Warrington Disability Partnership, LiveWire, Home Start, and other voluntary organisations offering a mix of booked appointments and drop-in support during the week.
Prof Colin Scales, CEO of Bridgewater Community Healthcare, one of the NHS partners involved in the project, said: “As a community health care provider, we see the impact of health inequalities, and the wider determinants of health, across our local communities.
“Bringing key partners and services together under one roof; the opening of the Living Well Hub will enable the residents of Warrington to take greater control of their own health, wellbeing and resilience.”
Elaine Darbyshire, Chief Communication, Engagement and Estates Officer at Mersey Care, added: “Mersey Care is pleased to be a founding partner of the Living Well Hub which places individuals, organisations and residents at the heart of their community care. The new facility will improve the way people can access support to help them live and age well, and be involved and active in their health, wellbeing, and mental health.
“The Hub will also provide opportunities for a range of Mersey Care mental health services to be embedded and connected to the local communities to deliver high quality, accessible care closer to home and without the need for a hospital visit.”
The Living Well Hub is specifically aimed at addressing health inequalities in Warrington, where there is a 10-year difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived members of the community.
It is part of the borough-wide Living Well programme, which aims to connect people, communities and services to enable residents to live healthy, fulfilling lives and take greater control over their own health, wellbeing and resilience.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: “I am confident that the Living Well Hub is going to be a gamechanger for Warrington. Whoever you are, if there are any aspects of your health and wellbeing you want advice about, I encourage you to drop in and start a conversation with one of the hub’s experts.
“By working together in partnership with other providers, a range of help and support is available to you and your family, and I encourage you to take a look at the Hub for yourself when it opens to the public.”
The Hub will be open to members of the public from Wednesday, with initial opening hours of 9am to 5pm weekdays, and until 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.
For more information about the services on offer, visit warrington.gov.uk/living-well-hub