Agenda item

 

This item is to consider a presentation in relation to the proposals in relation to the Phase 2 development of the Town Centre Health Hub, as requested by the Health Select Commission following its consideration of Phase 1 proposals in June 2025.

 

 

 

The Chair welcomed Councillor Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, Lorna Vertigan, Head of Regeneration, Councillor Baker-Rogers, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health and Gilly Brenner, Public Health Consultant to the meeting and invited them to introduce the presentation in relation to Phase 2 proposals for the Health Hub development and wider strategic context.

 

The Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy explained that the project represented a significant opportunity to combine the Council’s regeneration ambitions with health and wellbeing objectives in a way that would benefit both residents and the town centre. Members were reminded that Phase 1 was already underway and had involved the successful relocation of Abbey Pharmacy from the Markets complex into the former Boots building on Effingham Street as part of the wider Markets and Library regeneration scheme. Phase 2 was intended to build on this foundation by exploring a broader vision for the site as a town-centre-based health and wellbeing hub.

 

The proposal sought to improve access to primary health services, encourage greater integration between health providers, local government and the voluntary sector, address health inequalities and increase vibrancy and footfall within the town centre. The location was considered particularly advantageous due to its proximity to public transport links, the markets, the new library, parking facilities and other town centre amenities.

 

Members were advised that the Rotherham GP Federation had expressed a strong interest in relocating a number of borough-wide services into the hub, creating an opportunity to develop a more integrated and accessible model of service delivery. It was emphasised that proposals remained at an early stage and that significant engagement and business case development would be required before any formal decisions were taken.

 

The Head of Regeneration outlined the history and strategic importance of the former Boots building, which had been purchased by the Council several years earlier to prevent its conversion into storage space. Its prominent location opposite the markets and new library, close to the Interchange, Tesco and Drummond Street car park, provided an opportunity to attract visitors into the town centre and support movement between neighbouring businesses and facilities.

 

Members heard that Phase 1 had been completed successfully, with Abbey Pharmacy now operating from the site and experiencing high levels of footfall and positive customer feedback. The vision for the next phase was to develop a central, accessible facility offering a range of health and wellbeing services through a collaborative approach involving public, private and voluntary sector partners. The project aimed to improve access to services, reduce health inequalities, contribute to town centre growth and create a more seamless patient experience through the co-location of pharmacy and clinical services. The proposal also aligned with the Council Plan and the Rotherham Together Partnership’s ambitions to create vibrant town centres while improving health outcomes.

 

The Public Health Consultant provided an overview of the complex health commissioning landscape, explaining the respective roles of Integrated Care Boards, NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Local Authority and GP practices. Members were informed that the Local Authority retained responsibility for commissioning a range of public health services, including sexual health, substance misuse, smoking cessation, weight management, school nursing and NHS Health Checks, while other healthcare services were commissioned through the NHS structures described.

 

The presentation highlighted ongoing national reforms, including the transfer of some NHS England functions into the Department of Health and Social Care and structural changes affecting Integrated Care Boards. Members were advised that GP practices operated independently but increasingly collaborated through Primary Care Networks and that Rotherham’s GP Federation delivered several borough-wide services and public health programmes on behalf of member practices.

 

Particular attention was given to Connect Healthcare CiC’s interest in becoming a tenant within the proposed health hub. Members heard that Connect currently delivered borough-wide services from facilities in Rawmarsh but believed a town centre location would significantly improve accessibility for patients. Services currently provided by Connect included extended access appointments, same-day services, minor eye condition clinics, physiotherapy, NHS Health Checks, smoking cessation support and weight management programmes. Connect also regularly supported wider NHS priorities, including vaccination programmes and winter pressure responses. Because these services were available to residents across the borough rather than being linked to specific GP practice lists, a central location was considered especially beneficial.

 

The presentation set out the anticipated benefits of the scheme from both health and regeneration perspectives. Members were informed that locating services within the town centre would improve accessibility and convenience, allowing residents to combine healthcare appointments with shopping and other activities. Evidence from similar schemes elsewhere suggested that people were more inclined to engage with health services when they were embedded within everyday community settings. Data presented showed that 23% of Rotherham households did not have access to a private vehicle, rising to as much as 62% in some more deprived communities. Approximately 60% of Rotherham’s population would be able to reach the new town centre location within a 30-minute public transport journey, compared with only 30% for Connect Healthcare CiC’s current Rawmarsh location, equating to around 80,000 additional residents enjoying easier access to services. The hub was therefore seen as a means of tackling barriers to healthcare, improving patient experience and supporting broader economic and social outcomes.

 

Members also heard that the project aligned closely with emerging NHS priorities, including the NHS 10-Year Plan and the neighbourhood health agenda, which promoted greater integration between healthcare, social care, public services and voluntary organisations. It was argued that co-locating services within a single building could provide earlier intervention, better signposting, more holistic support and improved efficiency. Officers highlighted the importance of addressing wider determinants of health, such as housing, employment and financial wellbeing, and suggested that a range of support services could potentially operate from the hub alongside clinical provision. The proposal was presented as a response to significant local challenges, including lower healthy life expectancy, higher levels of long-term health conditions, increasing demand for care services and an ageing population. Members were advised that delivering meaningful improvements would require new approaches and greater service integration.

 

The Commission was informed that officers had visited the Living Well Centre in Warrington to examine a successful example of a similar model. The Warrington facility combined physical premises in the town centre with outreach provision and digital signposting services. Members heard how the centre operated a welcoming, open-access environment featuring a central reception area, themed service days and opportunities for residents to access multiple forms of support during a single visit. Examples included themed events focused on families, children, women’s health and healthy ageing. Officers considered aspects of this model highly relevant to Rotherham and were exploring opportunities to incorporate similar features. Interest had already been expressed by a range of Council services, including occupational therapy, adult social care, housing, youth justice and family services, which could potentially provide a regular presence within the building. Discussions had also taken place with NHS and voluntary sector partners regarding opportunities for future collaboration.

 

Detailed draft floorplans for the facility were presented. Members heard that the ground floor would include the existing pharmacy, a flexible community and wellbeing space, refreshment facilities, accessible toilet provision including a Changing Places facility, clinical consultation rooms and a centrally positioned reception area designed to oversee both waiting areas and public spaces. The community area would support drop-in services, voluntary sector activity and informal advice and support. Upstairs, proposals included non-clinical assessment rooms, flexible training and meeting spaces, facilities for group activities and physical activity sessions, areas for occupational therapy and physiotherapy assessments, and a dedicated space capable of supporting future diagnostic or minor surgical services. Officers emphasised that flexibility had been built into the design to ensure the building could adapt to changing models of healthcare delivery over time.

 

In concluding the presentation, officers outlined the next steps for the project. Further refinements to the design work were being undertaken, and work was progressing on a memorandum of understanding with Connect Healthcare CiC to establish its commitment before significant Council investment was made.

Stakeholder engagement would continue with health partners, voluntary organisations and local businesses. Members were advised that concerns raised by businesses regarding the nature of services operating from the building would be addressed through ongoing communication and engagement. The project timetable had recently been revised, with the intention now being to progress the scheme to RIBA Stage 3 to provide greater design detail and cost certainty before seeking Cabinet approval in November 2026.

 

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and Officers for the presentation and invited comments and questions from members.

 

Councillor Garnett welcomed the proposals but queried how the project would demonstrate that it had reduced health inequalities rather than simply relocating existing services. She further questioned how officers would ensure that the hub benefited those residents with the greatest health needs rather than predominantly serving individuals who were already accessing healthcare services.

 

The Public Health Consultant explained that the town centre location itself would improve accessibility, particularly for residents without access to private transport and those living in more deprived communities. She advised that the proposed model went beyond clinical provision by creating opportunities to co-locate services addressing wider determinants of health, including housing, financial advice and other support services. She noted that current public health services such as weight management and smoking cessation already reached disproportionately high numbers of residents from deprived backgrounds and stated that officers intended to build upon this success through partnerships with voluntary and community sector organisations to engage groups that might otherwise be reluctant to access formal health services.

 

Councillor Garnett also wanted to understand what role the hub would play in improving population health and preventing ill health, beyond delivering clinical services, and sought clarification regarding the contribution of smoking cessation, weight management and NHS Health Checks to improving life expectancy in Rotherham.

 

The Public Health Consultant reported that smoking remained the single most significant contributor to health inequalities and highlighted newly received national data showing that Rotherham’s Stop Smoking Service ranked amongst the most successful nationally, with the highest participation levels since 2016. They explained that NHS Health Checks enabled earlier identification and treatment of cardiovascular disease and provided opportunities to support healthier lifestyles and emphasised the role of the hub in tackling loneliness, strengthening mental wellbeing and creating opportunities for peer support through links with community and voluntary organisations.

 

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health added that the hub’s central location would significantly increase access to healthcare for residents who did not have access to a car, making services easier to reach through public transport and reducing barriers faced by some of the borough’s most disadvantaged residents.

 

Councillor Brent asked whether services located within the new hub would integrate with the NHS App and other digital access routes.

 

The Public Health Consultant advised that most clinical appointments would continue to be accessed through existing referral pathways, predominantly via individual GP practices. They explained that online booking arrangements already existed for some services and that Connect Healthcare was receptive to exploring greater digital integration in the future. She also highlighted opportunities arising from the development of the new Gizmo platform, which could improve signposting and navigation through health services. Officers further explained that, based on experiences elsewhere, themed service days and a welcoming drop-in environment could encourage residents to seek advice and access a wider range of support services beyond their original reason for attending. The Director of Public Health added that normalising health as part of everyday life was a key objective, enabling residents to seek help and advice in a more informal and accessible environment.

 

Councillor Brent also questioned the apparent prioritisation of regeneration benefits over health benefits within the presentation’s summary of ‘win-win’ outcomes. They noted that increased footfall and regeneration appeared to feature more prominently than health outcomes and sought reassurance that improving health remained the principal focus.

 

The Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy responded that no ranking had been intended and that all benefits should be viewed as complementary. They explained that whilst the project was regeneration-led, it had been developed specifically to deliver meaningful health and wellbeing improvements alongside town centre renewal. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health agreed that the items listed were not presented in priority order and reiterated that both improved healthcare access and increased town centre vitality were integral objectives. The Public Health Consultant emphasised that extensive public health involvement had shaped the project and that maximising health and wellbeing outcomes remained central to its development.

 

Councillor Brent acknowledged the explanation and commented that he viewed the initiative as primarily health-led rather than regeneration-led.

 

Councillor Clarke highlighted concerns regarding women’s health outcomes and referenced the Commission’s reviews into menopause and access to contraception, alongside the recent input from the Rotherham Women’s Health Network in relation to women’s health inequalities In Rotherham. They asked whether the hub would include provision relating to menopause, contraception, menstrual health and gynaecological services given the recommendations made and position outlined.

 

The Public Health Consultant confirmed that active discussions were underway regarding women’s health provision and advised that the flexible design of the building would support a variety of future services and initiatives. They referenced successful models elsewhere, including dedicated women’s health themed sessions, and stated that officers were exploring opportunities to co-locate clinical services with wider support and advice. They further confirmed that Public Health commissioned sexual health services and intended to explore how those services might be incorporated into the wider health hub offer.

 

Councillor Clarke also raised concerns regarding accessibility for residents in outlying communities such as Dinnington and asked whether officers would analyse geographical usage data to ensure all parts of the borough were benefiting equally.

 

The Public Health Consultant reported that Public Health was already undertaking wider work on healthcare access across the borough and intended to use service data to identify patterns of access and any emerging inequalities. They advised that patient data would enable monitoring of where service users originated and would support ongoing evaluation of the model’s effectiveness. They further noted that wider discussions regarding health estates across the borough were ongoing and emphasised that the Health Hub should be viewed as one part of a broader approach rather than a solution to every accessibility challenge.

 

Councillor Harper wanted to understand how success would be measured in both the short and long term and sought details regarding monitoring arrangements.

 

The Public Health Consultant explained that a range of measures would be used, including patient feedback, footfall data, efficiency measures and healthcare outcomes. They described examples from Warrington, where co-location of services had enabled more effective referrals and improved health outcomes. The Director of Public Health also stressed that whilst quantitative measures were important, qualitative evidence and personal experiences were equally valuable. They argued that residents’ stories and experiences would help demonstrate whether the project was genuinely improving lives and achieving the intended outcomes.

 

Councillor Fisher asked how priorities were or would be determined for the health hub and whether decisions were driven by data and evidence.

 

The Public Health Consultant explained that priorities would be shaped to a certain extent by commissioning arrangements alongside service opportunities, patient need and the potential benefits of co-locating services. They reiterated  that flexibility had been deliberately built into the design, enabling the service mix to evolve over time in response to feedback, changing needs and health commissioning priorities and opportunities. The Director of Public Health added that the proximity of services would create important opportunities for immediate referrals and early intervention, allowing patients to receive timely support at the point of need.

 

Councillor Fisher also wanted to understand whether the relocation of Connect Healthcare CiC services represented the creation of additional capacity or solely the transfer of existing provision.

 

The Public Health Consultant explained that the current proposal involved relocating existing services into a more accessible and integrated setting rather than creating new capacity. However, they noted that some community-based clinics would continue to operate in local settings where there were clear benefits to doing so. They emphasised that the intention was to improve accessibility and service integration while maintaining the ability to deliver outreach services across the borough where required in the context of the financial constraints across the wider NHS infrastructure.

 

Councillor Harrison asked officers to identify the greatest risks to delivery and sought assurances regarding contingency planning should partner involvement fail to materialise.

 

The Public Health Consultant described the project as an ambitious partnership initiative requiring commitment from multiple organisations and flexibility to adapt to changing service models over time. They highlighted the importance of creating a high-quality environment and ensuring long-term sustainability. The Head of Regeneration identified funding as the most significant project risk, noting that no capital budget had yet been formally allocated and that funding arrangements would need to be resolved as part of the project’s progression toward Cabinet consideration in November 2026.

 

Councillor Thorp questioned whether the project would genuinely increase healthcare provision and access or simply concentrate existing services in the town centre. Whilst welcoming the proposed location, they expressed concern that some communities might lose locally accessible services and questioned whether the strong emphasis on footfall risked overshadowing healthcare objectives.

 

The Public Health Consultant acknowledged that the proposal did not presently include funding for significant new services but argued that the benefits arose from delivering services in a fundamentally different way. They stated that co-location would improve patient experience, make navigation through the health system easier and strengthen links between healthcare, community support and preventative services. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health acknowledged that some services would become slightly less convenient for Rawmarsh residents already access the Connect Healthcare CiC services outlined, but argued that a town centre location offered significantly better access for the wider borough. The Director of Public Health emphasised that the health hub should not be viewed as simply relocating services but rather as creating a different and more effective delivery model, capable of reaching people who may not otherwise have engaged.

 

Councillor Yasseen expressed support for the overall vision and the benefits of integrated, preventative healthcare. They sought clarification regarding the timeline presented within the report, observing that Cabinet approval appeared scheduled before completion of consultation and business case development. The Head of Regeneration clarified that the timetable had since been revised from what was included in the presentation and that Cabinet would not be asked to make decisions until the outline business case, designs and associated costs had been completed.

 

Councillor Yasseen sought assurances regarding stakeholder engagement and community consultation, questioning the extent to which local residents and future service users could genuinely influence the proposals.

 

The Public Health Consultant confirmed that a programme of public, stakeholder and voluntary sector engagement was planned and would continue beyond the hub’s opening. They emphasised that the flexible nature of the building design would allow future users and partners to influence the evolving service offer. They also noted that Healthwatch had offered to support engagement activities.

 

Councillor Yasseen also queried how health outcomes would be measured and how the project would demonstrate tangible improvements beyond increased footfall and regeneration benefits.

 

The Public Health Consultant advised that discussions were ongoing regarding the inclusion of clear outcome measures and social value commitments within future agreements with health partners. They suggested that specific targets and monitoring arrangements would form part of future contractual and governance arrangements.

 

Councillor Yasseen also highlighted potential community cohesion issues resulting from increased use of the town centre by a wider range of residents and encouraged proactive consideration of these matters.

 

The Public Health Consultant acknowledged both the risks and the opportunities associated with bringing different communities together, stating that the shared spaces within the hub could help foster interaction, engagement and a stronger sense of community cohesion.

 

The Chair thanked officers, Cabinet Members and Commission members for their contributions and welcomed the enthusiasm shown for the emerging proposals, noting the Commission’s strong interest in the continued development of the Town Centre Health Hub project.

 

 

Resolved:-

 

That the Health Select Commission:

 

1. Noted the contents of the presentation received.

 

2. Requested that the relevant Council Services and health partners including the ICB, TRFT, RDasH, YAS and any relevant voluntary and community sector organisations engage in discussions to consider and develop firm proposals for services to operate from the Health Hub with the greatest potential of positive impact for Rotherham residents and service providers.

 

3. Requested that the Health Select Commission be advised of the anticipated timeline for final proposals and be sighted on them once agreed.

 

4. Requested that a further update be provided to the Health Select Commission at one, three and five year intervals post implementation to allow the Commission to scrutinise service delivery and assess whether the targeted impact of the Health Hub in terms of health inequalities, healthy life expectancy and general population health was being delivered.