‘Devastation’ as Hucknall health hub plans are put on hold

Plans for a new health and wellbeing centre in Hucknall have been shelved by the NHS.

The town had been shortlisted as one of six national pioneer projects for a new community hub concept aimed at supporting the health and wellbeing of the local population rather than just treating illnesses.

Now, a document seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service shows that the six "Cavell Centre" projects in the country, including in Nottinghamshire, have been put on hold.

The hubs were intended to be an "all under one roof" centre featuring GPs, health and wellbeing services and other in-community facilities.

One local councillor said the news was "devastating" for the community and "yet another broken promise to the people of Hucknall".

The decision to pause the plans was made in February but an announcement was not made at the time.

A document from the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) stated: "In February 2023 the Integrated Care Board (ICB) was required to pause the work relating to the Hucknall Health and wellbeing hub development whilst we awaited an updated national directive.

"We continue to work to secure the feasibility of a new health facility in Hucknall, building on the work undertaken with partners and patients as part of the Cavell programme, whilst we await the update.

"We are committed to delivering improved access to primary care services, working with Ashfield District Council and local partners, and are considering all our options.

"To ease the current pressure in the short term we are making some minor improvements to the Hucknall Health Centre building to increase capacity."

Councillor Lee Waters, County Councillor for Hucknall South (Ind) questioned how the ICB plans to mitigate the impact of the plans in the short term.

He said the Ashfield Independents have written to the ICB for further information and timescales.

He said: "The news that NHS England have paused plans for our critical new Health Centre is devastating.

"There are a lot of people who will be furious at yet another broken promise to the people of Hucknall. There are five other locations in the UK that were promised a super health centre who have also been let down and the Government need to intervene.

"This comes just weeks after the Conservative Government announced a significant delay to promised improvements at City Hospital and Queen's Medical Centre which will impact residents in our town.

"Ashfield District Council has already committed over £1 million to the project and we remain resolute in delivering a new super health centre to address a health care crisis caused by continual let-downs like this in Hucknall.

"I can reassure residents that Ashfield Independent councillors won't take this lying down and will do everything within their power to ensure Hucknall residents get the access to healthcare they deserve."

An NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire spokesperson added: "In January we were asked by NHS England to pause work related to the Hucknall Health and wellbeing hub development while we awaited a national directive.

"NHS England paused the development of the project business cases, to focus on developing the programme business case ahead of a bid for capital funding for the programme at the upcoming spending review.

"We remain fully committed to the development of health and care facilities in Hucknall."

NHS England said that local Integrated Care Boards are free to use their capital budgets to fund the building of Cavell Centres if they consider it a priority.