Services at Basingstoke health hub will move back into the local community and GP practices when it closes its doors next month (May).
The health hub in Festival Place first opened in early 2022, funded as part of the national response to the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Since then, delivery of the vaccination programme has evolved to become part of everyday local healthcare services and the NHS is seeking a more sustainable, long-term solution for the vaccination programme.
Staff will continue to offer the vaccine and some services from the hub until its closure on 13 May. After that, people eligible for the spring COVID-19 vaccine or those yet to get their first or second dose will still be able to get their jab at clinics available in the area.
Other services that have been provided at the site such as menopause advice and blood pressure checks will be available for patients at their local GP practice.
Dr Charlotte Hutchings, a GP and the Clinical Director, North and Mid Hampshire for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said: “The health hub has been a great example of collaborative working by primary care (GP) providers across north Hampshire, funded via the national COVID -19 vaccination programme.
“Now that the vaccine programme is becoming part of our ‘business as usual’ services, we need to explore more sustainable means of delivering the programme longer term and to make the best use of our NHS resources.
“We know the health hub has been greatly valued by many of the people who have used it – and we would like to thank the local GP practices, community and voluntary organisations, as well as the local council for their combined and much-valued support, particularly all the staff who have worked there.
“This last year has provided a great opportunity to think about how we deliver preventative health care services and will help inform future provision as we develop neighbourhood care across North Hampshire.
“People will still get the health services they need under the new arrangements – there is just a change to the location where they will be provided.”
Staff at the health hub have delivered more than 120,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The hub first opened in January 2022 in a smaller unit to offer residents a convenient way to get their COVID-19 vaccines, before reopening in June 2022 at its current, much larger site.
Where the services provided by the health hub will be available.
- COVID-19 Spring vaccine – Health Hub until May 13th. Community Pharmacies at Popley, Brighton Hill and Alton (Wellbeing Pharmacy). National booking service - www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination and helpline 0300561 0018. The Autumn sites will be confirmed nearer the time.
- Flu vaccines - General Practices/Community Pharmacy
- HPV vaccines - General Practices
- PPV vaccines - General Practices
- NHS Health Checks - General Practices
- Healthy Hearts: Healthy Hearts :: Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICS (hantsiowhealthandcare.org.uk)
- Weight management programmes - Health and Wellbeing coaches at GP Practices and Weightwatchers
- Smoking cessation advice- health and wellbeing coaches at GP, social prescribers or online at Smokefree Hampshire
- Menopause group consultations - advice from GP surgeries and most have specialist GPs in women's health
- Men's Health group consultations - advice from GP surgeries
- Blood Pressure checks - GP surgeries- blood machines in waiting room, as well as blood pressure monitors that can be bought or loaned
- Signposting- social prescribers available in all Primary Care Networks (PCNs) via GP surgeries. Many receptionists in surgeries are also being trained as care navigators and signposting people
- Social Prescribing - available in all PCNs via GP surgeries
- Mental Health advice – Mental Health advisers employed by PCNs available via GP surgeries and can also access via 'Andover Mind'
- Antenatal reviews - midwife available via GP surgery or Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT)
- Postnatal reviews - midwife available via GP surgery or HHFT
- Baby health and development reviews - health visitor contact directly. Telephone number given after birth or can get contact details from GP surgery or website.