My account
Services
Health on the High Street – latest services prepare to move into Alhambra
Barnsley Hospital has unveiled the latest outpatient services to move into the Alhambra Shopping Centre’s health and wellbeing hub as part of the trailblazing ‘Health on the High Street’ initiative.
Dermatology, Rheumatology and Orthotics are the latest services to transfer from the hospital into the Alhambra. Teams are due to start moving into their new purpose-built facilities from Monday (30 March), with all services being fully live by Monday 20 April.
The move is phase two of what has been described as the UK’s largest relocation of hospital outpatient services, bringing more accessible and convenient health and wellbeing services to thousands of residents.
Ophthalmology, Optometry and Retinal Screening were the first services to transfer to the Alhambra and are now operational in the upper-floor space that used to be the former Wilko store.
Combined with the NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), which opened in The Glass Works in April 2022, the Alhambra site has already made huge strides in improving healthcare access and patient satisfaction.
Phase two services are expected to provide an additional 40,000 appointments per year, building on the 60,000 appointments generated in phase one. These numbers are projected to rise year-on-year over the next five years.
Delivering health services from the heart of Barnsley town centre is setting an example for other areas across the country to follow. The project proved so groundbreaking that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, visited Barnsley in January to officially open the first phase of the Alhambra’s health and wellbeing hub.
Mr Streeting met staff and patients at the centre, which is challenging the 'hospital first' culture by encouraging residents to access non-emergency services in a different location, reducing dependency on acute settings.
He described Health on the High Street as ‘inspiring’ and ‘the future of the NHS,’ adding: “Having this brilliant facility right at the heart of the shopping centre means that it’s easier and more convenient for patients to get access to care. It’s bringing more people to the shopping centre and to the town centre, making it go from strength to strength.”
The new health and wellbeing hub was made possible after the Alhambra was bought by Barnsley Council with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to create a mixed-use centre, bringing health and wellbeing alongside retail and leisure. Barnsley Hospital, Barnsley Council, Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL) and the South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust are working together to bring health and wellbeing services together in the hub, which will be fully operational in 2028.
It's estimated that more than 100,000 visits a year could be made to the Alhambra instead of Barnsley Hospital. This will free up space and alleviate parking issues at the hospital.
The hub is also expected to attract an additional 150,000 footfall per year and generate at least £1.5 million in additional visitor spend, supporting a key mission in Barnsley’s Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy of empowering all of Barnsley’s communities to thrive.
Dr Richard Jenkins, Chief Executive of Barnsley Hospital, said:
“We are absolutely delighted by this next stage of development.
“We listened to what our patients told us and it’s clear that there is a real appetite for bringing more health services to a town centre location which is easy, convenient, modern and linked with other services and facilities. The support of Barnsley Council has been central to the success of the new facility.
“Expanding the range of health and wellbeing services in the heart of our town centre, alongside the Community Diagnostic Centre, is going to hugely enhance people’s experiences and ultimately improve the lives of residents.”
Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said:
“Health on the High Street is already making it easier for Barnsley people to get the right support, right in the heart of their town centre, and it’s fantastic to bring even more of Barnsley’s brilliant health and wellbeing services into the Alhambra.
“It’s building on the success of Barnsley Hospital’s Community Diagnostic Centre in The Glass Works, which has seen huge improvements in the number of patients accessing vital, potentially life-saving appointments over the last three years. This is another huge milestone in our plan to create a wider health and wellbeing hub which brings a range of health and support services closer to where Barnsley people live, shop and spend their time.
“The feedback from patients has been fantastic. People understandably prefer coming into town to have their scan, where they can go on to enjoy a coffee and a bit of shopping in our town centre, over having to attend a traditional hospital setting.”
