The government has a vision for more healthcare to be delivered in the community including in High Street settings, and Mr Streeting came to see firsthand how this is already working well in Barnsley.
Barnsley’s revolutionary ‘Health on the High Street’ development is transforming the first floor of the Alhambra Shopping Centre into a health and wellbeing hub, bringing more convenient healthcare services to thousands of residents.
Mr Streeting met staff and patients at the centre which is challenging the 'hospital first' culture by encouraging residents to access non-emergency services in a different location, reducing dependency on acute settings.
The first services to transfer to the Alhambra in the upper floor space where the former Wilko store used to be are Ophthalmology, Optometry and Retinal Screening. This will be followed by Rheumatology, Dermatology and Orthotics. Other hospital outpatient services are due to move in this year as part of a phased opening of the modern, innovative hub, which has been developed by a range of health and wellbeing partners and is due to be fully operational in 2028.
The Health on the High Street initiative is already revolutionising how residents can access health and wellbeing services in Barnsley. The Alhambra Health and Well-Being Hub is next to the Glass Works where the hugely successful NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opened three years ago. The CDC has been instrumental in reducing waiting times, increasing attendance rates for appointments and improving patient satisfaction. It has welcomed more than 220,000 appointments to date for services like blood tests, ultrasounds and X-rays. It also saw a 22% increase in mammogram attendance and a 24% reduction in Do Not Attends (DNAs).
Our collaborative health and wellbeing hub aims to reduce pressure on existing healthcare facilities, improve access and quality of care and attract even more visitors to Barnsley town centre, boosting the local economy. By attracting an estimated extra 150,000 footfall each year, the wider hub is expected to generate at least £1.5 million in additional visitor spend.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, said:
"It's been really inspiring to be here today, because what we're seeing right here in the heart of Barnsley town centre is the future of the NHS. “We go to so many places at the moment where high streets and shopping centres are in decline, but what we’re seeing right here in the Alhambra is a shopping centre and a town centre that is actually on the up.
“Having this brilliant facility right at the heart of the shopping centre will mean that it’s more easy and convenient for the patients to get access to care. It’s bringing more people to the shopping centre and to the town centre, making sure it goes from strength to strength. If people get a coffee on the way or do a bit of shopping, then so much the better.
“There’s so much to be inspired by here. There’s a great story to tell about Barnsley’s present and Barnsley’s future, and this is just the latest in what will be a whole series of new services and new investment, to make sure that Barnsley goes from strength to strength, and that Barnsley’s health, and the health of the whole of South Yorkshire, goes from strength to strength too.”
The new health and wellbeing hub was made possible after the Alhambra was bought by Barnsley Council with support from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to create a mixed-use centre, including the health and wellbeing hub alongside retail and leisure.
Creating a Healthy Barnsley is a key ambition of Barnsley Council and its partners. It’s our aim that:
- everyone can enjoy life in good physical and mental health.
- fewer people live in poverty, and everyone has the resources they need to look after themselves and their families.
- people can access the right support at the right time and place and are able to tackle problems early.
- our diverse places are welcoming, supportive and adaptable.