Have your say on new Health Hubs planned for Plymouth

Your views are needed on plans to introduce 10 new health hubs across Plymouth.

The proposed hubs will offer advice on alcohol consumption, smoking and healthy eating, provide mental health support, information and advice and a range of other activities

So far, a number of venues have been proposed for the hubs, with many likely to be placed within hospitals and existing GP surgeries.

One of the key reasons for exploring Health and Wellbeing hubs is to make access to services more straight forward.

Councillor Lynda Bowyer, the Cabinet Member responsible for Health said: “These Health and Wellbeing Hubs are not a Plymouth only initiative, almost all areas of the country are looking at how they can make better use of local resources. Whilst we want to join up services across the city, we want to know what services you would like delivered locally, which is why we really need your views.”

The plan is for the proposed hubs to work alongside current GP surgeries and some of the hubs may even be based in the same premises as existing GP surgeries but they are not replacing them. It may be that some people could receive a more timely and appropriate response outside of a GP surgery and it’s hoped the hub can bridge that gap.

The City Council has commissioned Healthwatch to run a series of engagement events across the city so residents can have their say on where the hubs should be and what should be in them.

Healthwatch is the independent consumer champion created to gather and represent the views of the public at a national and local level.

The suggested locations for the hubs and the communities they serve are as follows:

Derriford Hospital: the Leigham, Mainstone, Estover, Glenholt, Derriford and Widewell areas.
Four Greens Community Trust or Ernesettle Medical Centre: Whitleigh, Honicknowle, West Park, Ernesettle, Manadon and Widey.
Rees Centre or GP practice (Mudge Way): Plympton St Maurice, Underwood, Yealmpstone, Woodford, Chaddlewood, Colebrook, Newnham and Ridgeway.
Plymstock (possible new build): Elburton and Dunstone, Goosewell, Turnchapel, Hooe, Oreston, Mount Batten, Plymstock and Radford.
Mount Gould Local Care Centre, Ernest English House or Cattedown Primary Care Centre: Lipson, Mount Gould, Greenbank, East End (Cattedown) and Mutley.
Mannamead House or Efford Youth Centre: Compton, Mannamead, Efford, Laira, Eggbuckland, Peverell and Hartley.
The Beacon or Jan Cutting Centre Ham: Pennycross, North Prospect, Weston Mill, Ford and Beacon Park.
Tamar View or Stirling Road Surgery: Barne Barton, St Budeaux and Kings Tamerton.
Cumberland Centre: Devonport, Stoke, Keyham, Stonehouse and Morice Town.
Southway Medical Centre: Southway, Crownhill and Tamerton Foliot

The public ‘have your say events’ are running until October 20, you can find a full list on the Healthwatch website www.healthwatchplymouth.co.uk/news/health-wellbeing-hubs-your-voice-counts/.

If you can’t make one of the events use the online survey on the Healthwatch website www.healthwatchplymouth.co.uk