Alexandra Avenue Health & Social Care Centre
The recently completed Alexandra Avenue Health and Social Care Centre is located within Roxbourne, the sixth most deprived ward in Harrow, and the ward with the highest child poverty index score. Previously, residents had received patchy access to services, and those services that did exist were operating out of inadequate buildings.
"The previous buildings that served the community were extremely old, in a poor state of repair and not fit for purpose," explains Graham Bayliss, NHS Harrow's Estates and Facilities Manager. "A group of us therefore sat down and mapped out exactly what services were needed to better serve the community, and how much space we'd need to accommodate these."
With a site identified and planning permission granted, NHS Harrow decided to work with Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon LIFT (BHH LIFT), their chosen delivery vehicle for building new, community-focused healthcare facilities within the local area.
A partnership between the Department of Health, local health and social care services and private sector partners, BHH LIFT worked closely with clinical and non-clinical staff to develop a fit-for-purpose design that would house the numerous services that had been identified.
"Working with LIFT meant that we had a real input into how the building developed - right down to choosing the sinks and taps," says Graham Bayliss.
"The new building is light, clean, colourful and airy – and the patients love it," adds Joan Reeves, Alexandra Avenue Centre Manager, "As a result, it's very well used and we've attracted a large number of services to the community that weren't here before. There's a real focus on children and young people now, whereas before services were focused mostly on dentistry and podiatry."
The centre now houses over twenty-one services, including the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), paediatric therapies, ultrasound, contraceptive services, minor surgery, community dental services, full time podiatry services and full time cardiology services.
CAMHS has found that providing their service locally has been of real benefit to the young people of Harrow. A recent user group fed back how much they appreciated being able to receive mental health services locally and as part of a general health and social care clinic. The co-location of other service providers, such as paediatric therapies, has also helped to ensure that they - and other young people - are receiving greater joined up care.
Alexandra Avenue has been selected as one of London's first five polyclinics which will bring even more services to the community – including a full time GP practice providing urgent care to local patients every day of the year.
"Feedback from the community has been extremely positive," says Joan Reeves, "I truly believe that local patients are getting better care by having health and social care services co-located in one easily accessible centre."
