Northwood Health Centre – a former cottage hospital that has stood vacant since the late 2010s – has been brought back into healthcare use.
Following its £16m refurbishment, Northwood Health Centre has brought together Acre Surgery, The Carepoint Practice, and community services provided by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.
The centre provides GP care alongside district nursing, wound care, mental health support, talking therapies, diabetes services, bladder and bowel care, health visiting, and school nursing. It was officially opened by Manju Malhi, BME, DL, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Kieran Kinsella, director of advisory services at NHS Property Services, said: “It’s rewarding to see Northwood Health Centre open for the Hillingdon community and our NHS colleagues after so much hard work. The new health centre shows how we can help transform the NHS estate by repurposing existing healthcare buildings.”
Dr Manish Patel, GP Partner at Carepoint Practice in Northwood Health Centre, said: “Carepoint and Acre Surgery are delighted to welcome our patients and the local community to our new health centre. It is particularly rewarding to see a previously closed facility brought back into use for the benefit of the community.
“The modern, accessible facilities provide a more comfortable environment for patients and an improved working environment for our staff. Bringing services together under one roof will support closer collaboration between healthcare professionals, helping us deliver more coordinated care for years to come.”
Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth commented: “Northwood Health Centre brings a much-valued local building back to life, delivering GP and community services under one roof so people can get joined-up care closer to home. These kind of centres will help end the frustration for patients of being referred from one location to another, and ensure they get help with the causes of ill health, not just the symptoms. This all forms part of our 10 Year Health Plan, as we look to shift healthcare into the community, delivering easier access to care and improved outcomes for patients.”