Member Article

Duchess of Northumberland officially opens £4.6m health and social care facility

An integrated health and social care scheme in the heart of rural Northumberland has today (Monday 16 March) been officially opened by The Duchess of Northumberland, the Lord Lieutenant of the county.

Northumberland County Council and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have worked in partnership to build the £4.6m development in Haltwhistle which opened to patients and residents last year.

It is one of the first facilities of its kind in the country to provide hospital and social care support under one roof and is a prime example of how Northumberland is leading the way nationally to provide integrated care for patients.

The opening comes a week after NHS England announced that Northumberland has been chosen to take a national lead on transforming care for patients.

In recognition of work over many years to integrate health and social care in one of the most rural counties in England, Northumbria Healthcare has been chosen to lead work with partners to deliver an integrated primary and acute care system (PACS) for the county.

When opening the scheme in Haltwhistle, the Duchess met residents who live in Greenholme Court, the 12 purpose-designed extra-care flats which have been funded and developed by the county council, and patients and staff at Northumbria Healthcare’s Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital which delivers care closer to people’s homes.

The development also has a community room with kitchen and dining area where a day club is held. Local residents have the opportunity to book the community room for a range of other activities.

The Duchess of Northumberland said: “I am delighted to officially open this fantastic facility which has health and social care under one roof and see first-hand the benefits it is bringing to people in the Haltwhistle area.

“To see patients receiving expert hospital care closer to home and having the support they need to live independently in their own communities is truly excellent and is credit to everyone who has worked so hard over the years to complete this development.

“It is also most pleasing to hear that the facility is benefiting the wider community through the day club and community space.

“The scheme is an excellent example of organisations working together to deliver real benefits for patients and it is a privilege to play a small part in work which is leading the way nationally.”