Harpenden Health and Wellbeing Centre will be ready by 2020, NHS say
An artist’s impression of the proposed new centre. - Credit: Archant
The latest on Harpenden’s newest healthcare facility.
Left to right: Marion Dunstone, Director of Operations at Hertfordshire Community Trust (HCT); Lynda Edwards, Clinical Lead for School Nursing; Tess Gartside, Team Lead for Health Visiting at HCT; Carl Cheevers, Harpenden Town Council clerk; Diane Brent, Associate Director of Estates and Facilities; Phil Waters, chair of The Harpenden Society; Laura Catterall, Locality Manager (Adult Services) for St Albans and Harpenden for HCT; Nikki Sharkey, Locality Manager (Children’s Services) for St Albans and Harpenden for HCT; Jeff Philips, Non-Executive Director of HCT. Picture: The Harpenden Society. - Credit: Archant
A planning application for Harpenden’s new health and wellbeing centre will be submitted in a matter of weeks and the centre should be ready for use by 2020, according to NHS bosses.
This was revealed at a meeting between Hertfordshire Community Trust (HCC), Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG), Harpenden Town Council and 150 town residents, held by The Harpenden Society on Thursday.
HCT’s director of operations Marion Dunstone said: “We are really excited by the prospect of bringing a new healthcare facility to Harpenden.
“Our proposals would provide a range of healthcare services in a building which is fit for the 21st century.
Nikki Sharkey and Ruth Bradford handing out bags with information about becoming a member of Hertfordshire Community Trust. Picture: The Harpenden Society. - Credit: Archant
“Thanks to support from The Harpenden Society, the Red House Forum and colleagues at town, district and county councils and within the local NHS, we are now in a strong position to make our scheme a reality.
“We look forward to continuing to work with local groups and the community as our plans progress.”
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The new centre, based in the Stewarts building on the Harpenden Memorial Hospital site, will offer services for diabetes, leg ulcers, bladder and bowel problems, blood tests, and speech and language therapy service for children.
The centre was financed by the sale of the remainder of the Memorial Hospital site, which will be used for affordable homes and the Red House will be turned into flats.
Harpenden Town Council’s clerk Carl Cheevers updated the attendees on the Neighbourhood Plan and explained the importance of providing social services for the area’s growing population.
He said: “To me it is a step forward in building community support for what could be a wonderful local facility.”
Harpenden Memorial Hospital was absorbed into the NHS in 1948 and around 250 babies were delivered there each year.
In-patient services were lost in 2006 after the NHS trust decided to close the elderly care beds and transfer patients to St Albans City Hospital.
To find out more about the development, visit hertsvalleysccg.nhs.uk/your-care-your-future/services-in-your-area
