SENIOR government leaders visited the town to learn more about the latest updates on the trailblazing Health on the High Street scheme.
Barnsley Council bought the Alhambra - which originally opened in 1991 - two years ago for £4.5m with the support of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
The Alhambra is at the forefront of the plans, which are expected to bring in 250,000 people a year.
The venue will transform parts of the shopping centre to create convenient health services within the heart of the town centre and work is well underway on what will be the UK’s largest relocation of hospital outpatient services.
The first floor of the shopping centre will be turned into the health and wellbeing hub, which will see its first outpatient appointments transfer to Barnsley Hospital’s new satellite centre in the heart of town by this autumn.
Other hospital outpatient services are set to join them as part of a phased opening of the modern, innovative hub which will include services from a range of our health and wellbeing partners.
Last week the council welcomed Tom Riordan CBE, the second permanent secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care, so he could learn more about the latest developments.
Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Tom to Barnsley to show him our trailblazing Health on the High Street initiative.
“He has extensive experience in health and social care, having overseen a range of integrated reforms within that sector during his time as chief executive at Leeds City Council and his feedback was invaluable.
“This project is revolutionising how residents can access health and wellbeing services in Barnsley, making support more easily accessible and convenient for our communities, and will help us deliver more efficient, effective services alongside our partners.”
Alongside the developments at the Alhambra, bosses were also able to show the DHSC how the NHS Community Diagnostic Centre is already bringing health and care closer to our communities, a key ambition behind the government’s Ten-Year Health Plan.
Since opening in March 2022, the NHS Community Diagnostic Centre in the Glass Works has already made great strides in improving healthcare access and patient satisfaction.
Sir Steve added: “It’s already creating an example for other areas to follow up and down the country as we build on the success of the NHS Community Diagnostic Centre, which has seen huge improvements in the number of patients accessing vital, potentially life-saving appointments since it opened.
“It’s also demonstrating how vacant spaces can be transformed to diversify what’s on offer in a town centre, bringing a vibrancy back to the high street, and we’re looking forward to seeing the first outpatient appointments transferring to the Alhambra later this year.”
The Alhambra is set to be fully operational in its new form by 2028.
