New £16m integrated care centre opens

10 hours ago

Jeremy Stern,Trowbridgeand

Ben Marvell,Wiltshire

BBC Councillor Mel Jacob smiles while standing in front of the new Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre building. — Councillor Mel Jacob says it is important to have easily accessible services in the town

A new £16m health facility, designed to provide services closer to where people live and ease hospital pressures, will open later.

Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre (TICC) at Hammersmith Fields, in Wiltshire, will house all patient-facing services currently provided at the nearby Trowbridge Community Hospital, including clinics and a minor injuries unit.

The centre, which was funded by NHS England and Wiltshire Council through its Community Infrastructure Levy, is set to open at 08:00 BST.

Local councillor Mel Jacob said it was "great to have a modern facility" in the town, but acknowledged it would not provide in-patient or maternity care.

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"It's just not viable to have inpatient services in every town," she added.

It is hoped the centre will also take some pressure off local GP surgeries.

"The NHS looked at needs of the community [and] thought this was the best facility considering the way that people use the services," said Jacob.

"It brings up-to-date equipment and facilities in a really pleasant environment and has the flexibility to fit more people in.

"It is important to be able to get a physio appointment in your own town," she added.

Caroline Holmes from Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board said the centre would play a "vital role" in shifting care from hospitals "closer to where people live".

Sue and Gordon Pullin stand together outside the new care centre in Trowbridge. They both have short white hair. She is in a green jacket and he is in a darknavy or black one. — Sue and Gordon Pullin say the new centre will improve services "no end"

Holmes added: "Relocating services from the old Trowbridge Community Hospital into this new, ultra-modern building will provide a more comfortable environment for patients and staff that is fit for a 21st century NHS."

Local residents were enthusiastic about the new centre.

Mrs G Pike said she thought bringing services together under one roof would "be a big help", particularly for many older people in the town without a car.

Gordon and Sue Pullin said they expected the "modern building to improve services no end" compared with the existing "tired" hospital.

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