Virgin’s new care hub open on site at hospital
VIRGIN Care has opened a new care hub in the grounds of Ormskirk Hospital for its adult community services.
The health provider took over a host of services in West Lancashire last summer and said the new hub, at Bickerstaffe House, would benefit patients and staff.
Teams such as community matrons, specialist nurses, dieticians and community therapists who were previously located in different parts of the area are now based in one building, which the group said will provide a more joined-up and collaborative approach to the delivery of care for patients locally.
In May and June this year, Virgin Care invited colleagues, patients, carers and relatives to take a tour of Bickerstaffe House to view the new premises and find out more about the relocation as well as giving them the opportunity to give their responses to the progress of the project. The new base opened at the end of August.
As part of the project, the building has been refurbished to ensure it is well suited to the needs of its community teams and services and is set up to support collaboration.
It forms part of a wider investment plan to provide more coordinated community services.
Virgin Care runs adult community services and urgent care services on behalf of the NHS in West Lancashire, including community nursing and Skelmersdale and Ormskirk walk-in centres.
Debbie Curran, head of community services in West Lancashire, said: “The relocation of services is a key part of our transformation plan for West Lancashire adult community services.
“By co-locating our community services under one roof in a purpose-designed space we aim to provide a more integrated and person centred approach to the delivery of care in West Lancashire which will ultimately improve patients’ experiences of our service.
“The majority of patients will still see us in the same places they do today – but this change will mean that our colleagues can work more closely together.
“It’s a really exciting time for our teams who are already feeling the benefits of being in a shared working space.”
Claire Heneghan, chief nurse at NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “It is fantastic how teams have been brought together to enable easy communication and enhanced team working, within a fabulous environment, which embraces the use of technology to support care.
“This is the next step within the CCG’s vision to provide coordinated care to patients who really need it in West Lancashire.”