Paving the way for transformation of elderly care

It will unite services to transform care for the elderly and combat unnecessary hospital admissions.

Now, the £9 million Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre in East Hull is complete and end users are preparing to move in following extensive work to design and build the best flexible space, with partnership working between Sewell Construction, Citycare and NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The centre, which will be open seven days per week and is a first for Hull, will primarily treat elderly patients with long term conditions who have been referred to their GP as being at risk of hospital admission.

Following assessment, patients will have a detailed integrated care plan formed and a care coordinator appointed on the same day, with therapists, voluntary services and other specialist services based under one roof.

Hull City Council gifted the land for the facility and NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has driven the project and vision forward with partners and providers.

Derek Nickolds, Project Manager at Sewell Construction, said: “We are proud to have worked on a UK first and brought Hull’s first integrated care centre to life.

“This is the latest in a wide range of projects Sewell Construction has delivered on behalf of Citycare and NHS Hull CCG. We’ve also worked with Sewell Facilities Management to ensure the smoothest possible transition into the building and offer a whole estates solution.

“Although this is a new breed of health centre and unique in its design and offering, it has been delivered in the same tried, tested and trusted way other Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) buildings have over the past 14 years.

“Our supply chain is a vitally important part of this partnership and some of the teams involved in this project have been part of the journey since 2004.

“End users have been involved since the beginning and the building has been tailored to meet their needs in a flexible space for the future.”

The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre, on the site of the former David Lister School in East Hull, is named after Hull’s ‘Bee Lady’ Jean Bishop, who has raised more than £120,000 for older people’s charity Age UK while wearing her trademark bee costume since 2000.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service crews from the existing Southcoates Lane Fire Station in East Hull will be among those setting up home on the new site.

Building on the success of the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service and health-led Hull FIRST Falls Response Team, specially trained fire personnel will support community safety and rehabilitation programmes, as well as continuing to provide a dedicated fire and rescue service to the community.

The health aspect of their role will support the aims of the centre, which includes keeping primarily elderly residents fit, out of hospital and independent in their own homes.

Emma Latimer, NHS Hull CCG Chief Officer, said: “We have taken an innovative approach to the way we support frail, older people within the community. The health and care services in the facility will really focus on improving health outcomes and patient experience, and we are leading the way in Hull by collaborating with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service whose expert skills will support the care and rehabilitation of patients.

“This is another example of public sector partners in Hull working together to support some of the most frail and vulnerable people in the city and I am proud to be part of this fabulous development.”

Developer Citycare has developed over £100 million of new and improved health and wellbeing facilities on behalf of its public sector partners across Hull since 2004, and has appointed Sewell Construction and Sewell Facilities Management to build and maintain the facility following a robust procurement process.

Department of Health and Social Care-owned company Community Health Partnerships (CHP) is investing in the building and will be head tenant.