The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Plans to create a new Holbeach Health Hub have been unveiled.
South Holland District Council says its working with the Primary Care Network and NHS Lincolnshire on creating a new and expanded town centre building for the Holbeach Medical Practice.
It’s part of the town centre improvement plans.
A statement released by the council on Tuesday includes no firm details of the proposals and not even a location for the facility.
But The Voice understands plans have been worked on for more than two years with the preferred option to create it at the back of The Chequers as part of a new square.
In September it was revealed South Holland District Council had purchased the derelict former JW Limming warehouse in Park Road.
Sustained calls for more health facilities in Holbeach have been made from residents and politicians with a number of large housing estates being planned and built in the town.
There was dismay in September 2020 when it was revealed a 1.58 acre site on Dam Gate left by a developer for a new health centre was sold by the NHS.
Now it’s hoped a new centre will be created right in the centre of town.
A spokesman for South Holland District Council, said: “The project, which is a key part of the council’s Town Centre Improvement Plan for Holbeach, aims to support the existing practice in relocating and expanding into new premises, helping it to meet the needs of a growing population in the town, to increase the range of healthcare services available and to support the regeneration of the town centre.
“While work is still ongoing to make the proposals a reality, the plans have been able to be brought together and progressed with the support of investment from the council’s existing Holbeach Town Centre Improvement Programme.
“As well as aiming to provide an improved healthcare service to residents using the facilities, remaining in a prominent central location will also encourage greater footfall by patients through the town and increase their opportunities to visit, shop, eat or drink at some of Holbeach’s town centre businesses and traders.
“The plans have come about as part of a new, progressive nationwide approach towards high street and town centre regeneration, adopted by the Council and championed by the NHS and Social Market Foundation as part of the ‘Health on the High Street’ campaign, which came about following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Coun Nick Worth, deputy leader and portfolio holder for Holbeach Town Improvement, said: “I think it is vitally important that we approach the need to both improve and protect our town centres in a variety of different ways, and I welcome the opportunity to work with healthcare partners on this new, forward-thinking approach.
“This is an exciting project that will potentially have a great benefit for those accessing healthcare services and for our town and businesses, who need people’s support more than ever.
“I believe it can help to meet the need of residents both now and into the future and help to ensure
Holbeach remains a great place to live, work and visit.”
Dr Viji Mani and Dr Jagath Gunasekara, Holbeach Medical Centre partners, said: “We are pleased to be working with South Holland District Council and the NHS on these ambitious new proposals, to look at how we can enhance our offer to our patients and increase our overall capacity and service as a healthcare centre, to the benefit of us, our service users and the whole of Holbeach.”
