Hopes for Plymouth health hub boosted

Despite the project halting

Plymouth City Council bosses have met with senior government ministers to discuss the future of the stalled West End health hub project. 

Council leader and Tory member for Southway, Richard Bingley, held discussions with health minister Lord Markham and – accompanied by chief executive, Tracey Lee – he met under secretary for the department of health and social care Neil O’Brien.

The pair asked the government for support in delivering the project which was dismissed as “an ambition” by Conservative MP for Moor View, Johnny Mercer, last November after the government earlier confirmed it was pulling £41 million of funding.

Over £2 million has already been spent preparing for the centre at Colin Campbell Court by demolishing buildings and moving businesses. 

Cllr Bingley described his meeting with Lord Markham as positive. “I impressed upon him the cross-party support for a scheme which is helping to address deep-rooted and long-term problems in the health system – and kick start a much needed regeneration scheme,” he said.

“The council with its partners have come up with an innovative solution that gives desperately-needed access to health care in the city centre and we are ready to go.

“The minister was supportive of the vision for the integrated health hub and said he was going to look at ways he can help getting the scheme delivered.”

In November councillors criticised the decision to halt the project and questioned why money had already been spent on preparing the site if there was no certainty it would go ahead.  

It is hoped the three-storey building will house GPs as well outpatient services provided by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, including community services delivered by Livewell SouthWest such as mental health and wellbeing services. There would also be a pharmacy.