Unity Healthcare in Haverhill opens new hub in High Street building also used by West Suffolk College

The opening by a GP practice of a new healthcare hub in Haverhill town centre has been described as ‘great news for patients’.

Unity Healthcare has opened the new triage and operations e-consultations hub in a High Street building, with support from West Suffolk Council.

Unity, managed by the Suffolk GP Federation, has become the latest public sector partner to move into the building, which is owned by West Suffolk Council and had a £2m capital programme of works and refurbishment that was completed last year.

The GP practice, which serves a patient list of approximately 25,000 in Haverhill and the surrounding villages, as well as Long Melford and Lavenham, has created the hub on part of the second floor at Provincial House.

Last Thursday cabinet members from West Suffolk Council visited Provincial House to hear how the new hub will benefit patient care in and around the town including at Unity Healthcare’s surgery in Greenfields Way.

Dr David Brandon, the GP clinical lead at Unity Healthcare said the new hub, which won’t be used for face-to-face appointments, will support the delivery of more flexible services.

By moving non-patient facing services out of clinical buildings, the space in the practice sites can be focussed on the provision of in-person care.

“This is great news for patients. Most of our patients use our online consultation system (which reduces telephone queues) but for those that are unable, they can contact the practice by telephone or visit a reception desk.

“We are then able to ensure that clinical care can be provided on the basis of need, but also in ways that can improve continuity of care, convenience and patient choice.

“By working in this way we’re able to provide a higher quality and more responsive service that better meets the needs of our patients,” he said.

“The spacious and contemporary office space also creates a better environment for staff to thrive, which makes it easier for us to recruit and retain staff and allows teams to learn from each other.”

Cllr Donna Higgins, cabinet member for families and communities at West Suffolk Council, whose portfolio includes health and wellbeing, said: “We recognise local concerns around the need for greater access to healthcare services for residents in Haverhill and the surrounding area, whether that is online, over the phone or in person.

“Helping improve that access is an important part of our strategic priority for Thriving Communities.

“The new triage and operations hub is one part of this, fulfilling a role behind the scenes that Unity Healthcare says will allow it to deliver more services including face-to-face appointments at its other sites, benefitting thousands of patients in and around Haverhill.”

Cllr Diane Hind, cabinet member for resources at West Suffolk Council, whose portfolio includes management of council properties, said: “I am delighted that Unity Healthcare has chosen to open this new triage and operations hub in Haverhill and that we have been able to help accommodate them within Provincial House.

“This is our second public sector tenant in the building following the opening of West Suffolk College’s Personal and Professional Development Centre there in November.

“This also has a wider benefit for West Suffolk. Our share of the council tax bill - about £200 a year for a band D household - makes up less than 20 per cent of what it costs West Suffolk Council to deliver our services.

“Capital investments in projects such as this benefit both the local community and West Suffolk as a whole by helping us maintain services and keep council tax as low as we possibly can.”

Unity Healthcare said this novel and cost-effective model is an innovative solution to the national problems relating to a shortage of primary care estate and is improving patient access to services.

It has taken on part of the second floor of the building alongside West Suffolk College’s Personal and Professional Learning Centre which also occupies the ground floor.

Original tenants AXA Insurance occupy the first floor while the third floor is being marketed.