Work to build health centre on hospital site to start

BY TOBY PORTER

toby@slpmedia.co.uk

Building work to create a new secondary school and health centre in the structure of a former hospital is on schedule for completion in two years’ time.

Construction work of the health centre begins in a matter of days, after a final deal was reached on May 1 over the site of the former Dulwich Community Hospital in East Dulwich Grove.

The redevelopment plans, by NHS Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS England, aim to provide a range of treatment, such as doctors and community care, in one location by April 2020.

There will be primary care, children’s services, some diagnostics, a physiotherapy unit, a renal dialysis unit and community mental health services.

Patients with one or more long-term conditions such as diabetes or heart disease will also be treated there – so they do not have to attend multiple appointments in different hospitals.

Care will be run by some of South London’s top hospitals – Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Roger Durston, NHS Southwark CCG’s GP clinical associate for the Dulwich Programme, said: “This is great news for patients and residents of Southwark. The health centre is part of the transformation of primary and community health and wellbeing services across south Southwark, and will serve as a health hub for the local community.”

Malcolm Hines, director of finance for NHS Bexley, Bromley and Southwark CCGs, said: “This is a culmination of years of work to bring this project to fruition.

“We are absolutely thrilled that work will be starting on the site in the next few weeks and I’d like to thank everybody involved in getting the project to this stage.”

Angela Dawe, Guy’s and St Thomas’s joint director for operations and strategic development of adult local care, said: “This new centre will bring the care that our patients need closer to where they live and in a location that suits them.

“It means that our staff can work on site with our partners and GP services, in a joined-up way, to provide the best possible care.”

Councillor Peter John, the leader of Southwark council, said: “I’m delighted work is beginning at Dulwich Community Hospital, which will transform healthcare in Southwark.

“Once complete, this site, in the heart of the community, will provide a wide-reaching and modern service, particularly to patients who would previously have suffered the inconvenience of visiting more than one hospital for their treatment.

“I thank all those involved in this project for their dedication to making it happen.”

The Charter School East Dulwich will have up to 1,680 pupils aged 11 to 19 and more than 180 teachers and support staff when it moves in 2020. It is currently in temporary accommodation in Peckham.

The Charter School’s headteacher, Alex Crossman, said: “We are delighted the health centre project is progressing. We look forward to completing our school opening alongside to create a wonderful new development for health and education in our community.”