New facility will help secure future of health and social care on islands
PLANS for a new integrated health and social care facility on the Isles of Scilly have taken a huge step forward, thanks to national funding approval.
The centre, to be built on the site of St Mary’s Community Hospital and next to St Mary’s Health Centre, will provide 12 residential care home beds, NHS inpatient beds and a modern maternity suite.
Other outpatient services will continue, including X-ray, minor injury unit, dental and consulting rooms.
The amount of funding which has been approved was not available as The Cornishman went to press.
Work is scheduled to start this month and finish in summer 2025.
“The aim is to develop and continue an integrated model of care that supports the needs of the island communities”, said a spokesperson for the project.
“It’s hoped this will future-proof services for years to come.
“Together with the Council of the Isles of Scilly and colleagues from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, primary care, South Western Ambulance Service, the voluntary sector and mental health services, the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will provide robust services to keep people at home or close to home where clinically possible. This will include maximising digital technologies and remote support to provide more enabled care on the islands.
“The Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust received approval for its short-form business case on Tuesday, March 26.
“This means the trust, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and partners can move the project forward, from gathering the views of residents and staff to the ordering and shipping of materials needed to develop the facility”.
Debbie Richards, chief executive of the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This joint project is a fantastic opportunity to improve health and care facilities on the islands. It’s critical for the longterm sustainability of health and social care services, and I’m delighted that it has secured national funding approval.
“The investment will see services provided by an integrated workforce from a fit for purpose building, and reduce the risk of some services having to move to the mainland.
“Combined with the digital investment, it’s designed to reduce healthrelated travel for both islanders and clinicians”.
Robert Francis, chairman of the islands’ council, said: “The allocation of funding for this project to deliver a new integrated health and social care facility on the islands is excellent news, and a great outcome for all the hard work put in by the partners involved.
“The council’s Corporate Plan promises to retain on-island residential care and to work with health colleagues to combine health and social care services on the islands for the benefit of the whole community.
“With the announcement that funding for the facility has been confirmed, the council can focus on working with the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the wider health sector to develop an integrated service supported by modern facilities that will meet the needs of the islands.”
Kate Shields, chief executive of the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, said: “I’m so excited that national funding approval has been given for these essential services for the islands.
“This highlights our commitment to working with islanders to put in place the services they need to live their lives and access the health and care they need from birth through to older age in their own community”.
Derek Thomas, MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “It’s such a relief that the integrated care facility can now move to the next stage. The development will enable a model of care that will be great for residents on Scilly and a blueprint on how health and care services could be integrated in rural settings.
“My thanks must go to all those who have worked over many years to demonstrate the opportunity that exists for Scilly and navigate processes and systems not necessarily designed for isolated communities.
“It’s not been straightforward, but it is an example of what can be achieved when we all work together in the interest of those we serve”.