MORE services are set to transfer from Barnsley Hospital to the Alhambra Centre as part of the revolutionary Health on the High Street scheme next week - and it’s anticipated it’ll provide an additional 40,000 appointments each year.
The development, which has been hailed as the UK’s largest relocation of hospital outpatient services outside a clinical setting, has taken its next step with three services moving in from Monday.
Dermatology, rheumatology and orthotics are all expected to be fully live by April 20 after next week’s relocation.
It’s the second phase of the impressive scheme which has already seen ophthalmology, optometry and retinal screening move to the town centre site.
Combined with the NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), which opened in the Glass Works in April 2022, the Alhambra site has already made huge strides in improving healthcare access and patient satisfaction.
Phase two services are expected to provide an additional 40,000 appointments per year, building on the 60,000 appointments generated in phase one.
These numbers are projected to rise year-on-year over the next five years.
Richard Jenkins, chief executive at Barnsley Hospital, said: “We are absolutely delighted by this next stage of development.
“We listened to what our patients told 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.
“The support of Barnsley Council has been central to the success of the new facility.
“Expanding the range of health and wellbeing services in the heart of our town centre, alongside the Community Diagnostic Centre, is going to hugely enhance people’s experiences and ultimately improve the lives of residents.”
The new health and wellbeing hub was made possible after the Alhambra was bought by Barnsley Council with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to create a mixed-use centre, bringing health and wellbeing alongside retail and leisure.
Estimates show that more than 100,000 visits a year could be made to the Alhambra instead of the hospital, while also freeing up vital space and alleviating parking issues at the Gawber Road site.
The hub is also expected to attract an additional 150,000 footfall per year and generate at least £1.5m in additional visitor spend.
Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said that phase two is a ‘huge milestone’ for the scheme.
He added: “Health on the High Street is already making it easier for Barnsley people to get the right support, right in the heart of their town centre, and it’s fantastic to bring even more of Barnsley’s brilliant health and wellbeing services into the Alhambra.
“It’s building on the success of Barnsley Hospital’s Community Diagnostic Centre 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.
“This is another huge milestone in our plan to create a wider health and wellbeing hub which brings a range of health and support services closer to where Barnsley people live, shop and spend their time.
“The feedback from patients has been fantastic. 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 town centre, over having to attend a traditional hospital setting.”
