BARNSLEY’S revolutionary ‘Health on the High Street’ scheme in the Alhambra welcomed its first patients this week - bringing more convenient healthcare services to thousands of residents.
The development has been hailed as the UK’s largest relocation of hospital outpatient services outside a clinical setting.
It’s transformed the first floor of the shopping centre into a health and wellbeing hub, starting with Barnsley Hospital’s first outpatient appointments transferring to their new satellite centre in the heart of town.
The first services to transfer to the Alhambra health and wellbeing hub, in the former Wilko store on the upper floor of the centre, are ophthalmology, optometry and retinal screening and this will be followed by rheumatology, dermatology and orthotics.
Other hospital outpatient services are due to move in early 2026 as part of its phased opening overseen by the hospital, council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) which is due to be fully operational in 2028.
It’s estimated that more than 100,000 visits a year could be made to the Alhambra instead of the hospital, freeing up space and also alleviating parking issues at the Gawber site.
Dr Richard Jenkins, chief executive of Barnsley Hospital, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to take this exciting opportunity to the final stages of development.
“We’ve been listening to what our patients, their families and our colleagues tell us and it’s clear that there is a real appetite for bringing more health services to a town centre location which is easy, convenient, modern and linked with other services and facilities.
“This means we can build on the success of the CDC which has been incredibly well-received by the people of Barnsley.
“Expanding the range of health and wellbeing services in the heart of our town centre, alongside the CDC, is going to deliver even more efficient and effective services, hugely enhancing people’s experiences and ultimately improving the lives of residents.”
The nearby CDC has been hailed as instrumental in reducing waiting times, increasing attendance rates for appointments and improving patient satisfaction, welcoming approximately 220,000 appointments to date for services like blood tests, ultrasounds and X-rays.
It has also boosted footfall in the town centre by an additional 50,000 per year, according to council leader Sir Steve Houghton.
He added: “Health on the High Street is a trailblazing project, bringing even more of Barnsley’s health services into the heart of our town centre.
“I’m excited to see the first hospital services moving into the Alhambra space, making it easier for people to get vital health checks, and I can’t wait for the space to continue growing its offer over the next few years.
“It’s building on the fantastic success story of the CDC in the Glass Works, which has seen huge improvements in the number of patients accessing vital, potentially life-saving appointments over the last three years.
“People understandably prefer coming into town to have their scan, where they can go on to enjoy a coffee and a bit of shopping in our fantastic town centre, over having to attend a traditional hospital setting.”
