A ‘topping out’ ceremony has recently taken place to mark the structural completion of the new health centre in Dulwich.
The Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Catherine Rose, and Dulwich and West Norwood MP, Helen Hayes, joined the CCG’s director of Finance, Malcolm Hines, to ‘top out’ the new building. Each said a few words, emphasising how the development has been shaped by local people, and highlighting the hub’s central role in delivering ‘more joined-up and accessible’ health and wellbeing services in Dulwich and south Southwark.
Malcolm Twite, chief commercial officer for Community Health Partnerships said: “Achieving this construction milestone is great news, especially for patients and staff. We are a significant step closer in delivering a fantastic environment for staff to provide excellent clinical services, and patients will benefit from state-of-the art facilities for treatment. I am delighted that through collaboration and partnership working we have helped local NHS partners realise their vision to integrate care in Dulwich and the surrounding area.”
CCG director of Finance, Malcolm Hines, said: “Today’s ceremony marks another exciting step in the development of this landmark project – one that will bring significant benefits to patients in Dulwich and south Southwark. The new health centre will improve access to GP and community care by delivering a range of health and wellbeing services under one roof. This is the future of healthcare in Southwark – community partners working closely together to ensure services are more joined-up, personalised, and responsive to patients’ needs.”
On schedule to open on a phased basis from April 2020, the health centre will house a range of healthcare and community services, including a GPs’ surgery, children’s and mental health services, X-ray facilities, kidney dialysis, physiotherapy, and some hospital outpatient clinics. It has also been designed to accommodate non-clinical community services, such as exercise classes, education sessions, and a spaces for voluntary sector activities.
With the structural work complete, the development team is working with local people to design the building’s interior, and liaising with NHS and community partners to finalise the services that will occupy the health centre. The facility’s design, build, funding, and operation, are through the NHS LIFT programme – a public private partnership PPP led by Community Health Partnerships working with Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group and the local LIFT partner, South London Health Partnership (SLHP).
