New health hub in Stalybridge opens for patients

A NEW health hub has opened in the heart of Stalybridge providing patients with a host of NHS services under one roof.

Stalybridge, Dukinfield and Mossley Primary Care Network (PCN) has established the PCN Healthcare Hub on the first floor of Stalybridge Resource Centre at 2 Waterloo Road, which is also the home of St Andrew’s House Medical Centre.

Consisting of eight fully equipped clinical rooms, offices and a large conference centre, it was officially opened by Jonathan Reynolds MP on Friday 10 June.

Patients are referred to the Hub by GPs with services including: MSK Physio, Adult’s Mental Health, Children’s Mental Health, Weight Management, Health and Wellbeing, Pharmacy and Medication Reviews, Learning Disability Clinics, Social Prescribing, Complex Care, and Frailty and Ageing Well.

It will also host Cancer Screening, Early Diagnosis and Prevention; Specialist Care including Palliative, Dementia, Diabetes and Long Term Condition Management; a Chaplaincy Service; and a homelessness project that includes open drop-in clinics where homeless patients can use the hub as an address for post and have health checks and screenings.

The hub will also be the base for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and for a team of paramedics who conduct home visits in the area for GP practices, as well as for Physician Associates for on the day appointments to ensure the right care is available in the right place, utilising the skills of a range of health care professionals to help reduce appointment wait times and hospital admissions.

Projects are also starting from the hub around personalised care, reducing health inequalities, and veteran’s healthcare. The hub is also a recognised training environment where the PCN will work with universities in Manchester to provide placements for trainee nurses, paramedics, physician associates and other healthcare professionals and with the Prince’s Trust to provide placements for volunteers and back-to-work schemes. Further partnership work will provide collaborative working spaces for secondary care, mental health providers, the voluntary sector and community partners.

NHS Tameside & Glossop CCG co-chairmen Dr Asad Ali and Dr Ashwin Ramachandra said: “From helping diagnose cancer early so that patients have the best chance for successful treatment to mental health support to getting your flu or COVID-19 jab, the hub will be of huge benefit to residents. It will support the work of local GP practices and partners, help homeless patients and provide a great base for training and collaborative work.”

Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Population Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Eleanor Wills said: “The Healthcare Hub is a fantastic new facility that will give local patients a multitude of NHS services in one building that’s easily accessible in the heart of Stalybridge. Congratulations to everyone involved for creating such a wonderful asset for Stalybridge.”

PCNs are groups of GP practices that work collaboratively delivering NHS projects, with the Stalybridge, Dukinfield and Mossley PCN consisting of nine GP practices in the area, serving around 42,000 patients.

For the latest COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic opening times, please visit www.tameside.gov.uk/covidvaccine