Plans for 'health hub' in Rotherham town centre go before council
Rotherham Council acquired a former Boots building in May 2023
Rotherham councillors have discussed plans for a new health hub in the town centre, aiming to improve access to services and tackle health inequalities.
On July 23, councillors at a health select commission meeting explored how a new health hub on Effingham Street could improve residents’ access to health services.
Rotherham Council acquired a former Boots building in May 2023 and the Abbey Pharmacy relocated to the site from its previous base at the town’s indoor market on Howard Street.
Draft floor plans show layouts for each floor in what would be a new health hub, with space for approximately 30 clinical spaces.
The plan proposes working with health and service partners, and aiming to improve access to health services, taking pressure off GP services and the hospital, and also supporting wider regeneration of the town centre.
Gilly Brenner, a public health consultant from the council, spoke of how the Rotherham hub would be inspired by a similar hub in Warrington.
“Upstairs they had the usual sort of accessible clinical capacity, and they used those for a range of services, mental health, community and acute trust services. The missing piece of their jigsaw was actually linked into primary care, so I think we have an opportunity to do it better,” she said.
Phase one, the relocation of Abbey Pharmacy, was estimated to have cost £1.3 million, and phase two, developing proposals for creating the health hub, is estimated to cost £400,000 for design work.
However, before phase two can begin, a report would need to be brought to the council cabinet to present the detailed proposals, before funding for the hub could be approved and allocated.
Councillor John Williams, cabinet member for transport, jobs and the local economy, said: “The vision that’s been pursued for the second phase is to create a hub that improves the access to primary health services and supports a more joined up approach between health, local government, the voluntary sector together to help tackle health inequalities and contribute to the vibrancy in the footfall of the town centre.
“This second phase is about exploring that broader vision for the project and the role it could play in improving access to health and wellbeing services in a central and highly accessible location in the town centre.”