Models - Community Hospital Hubs

One of the emerging models for developing community hospital services is to develop them as "hubs" – often referred to as "health and wellbeing hubs."   This model concentrates on those services that meet the community's health, social, welfare and associated needs and is concerned with health promotion, well-being, community support, information and resources. The hub model is typically provided in partnership with the voluntary sector, communities, the private sector, social care and health care.  Unlike classic community hospitals, the hubs do not provide NHS community beds and often do not provide any urgent care services.  Many of the hubs are benefiting from financial support from the community hospital League of Friends. 

Hub on Rye Hill

    

The community charity at Rye has built and now manages a health and wellbeing hub known as the Hub on Rye Hill.   The Hub has a variety of rooms for a range of activities including training, meetings, therapy and care sessions. Community support groups meet at the Hub such as the Rye Carers Group and DISC Dementia Carer Support Group.   Rooms are used to offer services such as footcare, acupuncture and hairdressing. There are exercise and activity sessions including the Rye Active Friends Club, Pilates and Yoga. The Rye and District Day Care Centre runs two days a week.  Advice and support is offered such as through the Citizens Advice Bureau. There is also Technology support for seniors. The staff and volunteers in the Hub would like to be able to offer more and are exploring ways of extending the use of the Hub for the benefit of the local community including becoming a base for social prescribing.  The community cafe is at the heart of the Hub. The Hub had a successful Open Day to celebrate the International Day for the Older Person which involved many local organisations, practitioners, staff, volunteers and local residents.  The Hub is one of the services on the Memorial Care Centre, including a community hospital, GP practice and Extra Care Sheltered Housing. 

Coastal Health and Wellbeing 

    

The Coastal Health and Wellbeing Hub is a gem of service, beautifully located in the coastal town of Wells Next The Sea. The hub is a thriving centre which offers a range of services and facilities to the local community. Previously known as the Wells Community Hospital, it is now run by a charity which provides a range of social, emotional and practical services. At the heart of the hub is the Hive Cafe, a well-used and welcoming community space.  The hub offers exercise classes, community support groups, family hub with stay and play, art for wellness, walking for wellness, gardening group in the Community Garden, podiatry, hearing support, a hairdresser, mental health services, massage therapy  and an affordable food hub the Coastal community supermarket.  There is also support for people who want to volunteer, and those wanting to get into work.  For visitors to the area, a kidney dialysis unit is located in the hub.   

Bromley By Bow Centre, East London

Managed by Bromley By Bow Centre registered charity.  This centre in East London has been described as a pioneer for the model of a community hub or community resource centre. The centre is designed to support people of all ages, and focused on improving health and wellbeing, find employment, and develop confidence. Health and wellbeing services and facilities include 3 GP practices, social prescribing, macmillan support, health trainers and mens health network.  The CHA visited the Centre on a Q Community study visit in May 2023.  There was much to learn about integrated care and supporting individuals and communities appropriate to their needs and wishes.  

Shepton Mallet Health and Wellbeing Centre, Somerset

Was Shepton Mallet Community Hospital.  Managed by Shepton Mallet Health Partnership consisting of Care UK and Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.  Shepton Mallet Health Partnership, a joint venture between Care UK and Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, won the contract to run the new Shepton Mallet health and wellbeing campus.  This has been described as an innovative solution to providing healthcare that locates on one site a range of NHS community and mental health services. Care UK currently runs the Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre on site. This will be integrated with the community hospital including the diagnostics and minor injury unit, as well as providing a base for the community, including voluntary and third sector organisations through the Community Partnership Group.  The inpatient beds in the community hospital are currently closed.

Seachange

Seachange Devon describes itself as an inspiring new approach to community support.  It is a health and wellbeing hub in Devon that works on the basis that good health and happiness are closely linked.  The charity is based in what was Budleigh Salterton cottage hospital, and is supported by the Leagues of Hospital Friends.   The charity aims to offer easy access to practical support for all generations, young and old. Seachange offers a programme of activities and support groups as well as providing a community base through its cafe.  Their programme of events is all designed to increase social cohesiveness, reduce isolation, and loneliness whilst improving the health and happiness of our community.

Bedser Hub, Surrey

Was Woking Community Hospital.  Managed by Virgin Care working with Ashford and St Peters Hospital, Surrey and Borders Partnership, the District and Borough Councils, County Council, South East Coast Ambulance Service, Age UK Surrey and the wider voluntary sector  Bedser hub is managed by Virgin care.  Organisations involved in the hub include Ashford and St Peters Hospital, Surrey and Borders Partnership, the District and Borough Councils, County Council, South East Coast Ambulance Service, Age UK Surrey and the wider voluntary sector.  The Bedser hub was made possible by a generous donation from the Friends of Woking Community Hospital.  Age UK employ "wellbeing coordinators" in the hub who undertake a social assessment. GPs with a multidisciplinary team assess patients and plan their care and support.  Further hubs will be opened at Ashford and Weybridge.

Marlow  Community Hub, Buckinghamshire

Was Marlow Community Community Hospital Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.  The hub is designed to help patients to access prevention services, primary care services and some hospital services such as clinics.  The Trust is expanding community services, and this includes a new community assessment and treatment service, which is a frailty assessment service.  The beds in Thames are closed, while this service is piloted. 

Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Health and Wellbeing Centre, Devon

Managed by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.  The Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Community Hospital has closed and the site is now being used as an interim Health and Wellbeing Centre. The centre provides local community clinics such as podiatry and physiotherapy.

 

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