A COMPANY has been appointed to carry out a public consultation into proposals for a community health and well-being hub in Camelford.

Over the last 12 months, a steering group has met to discuss the plans and take the vision forward.

Cllr Rob Rotchell, who chairs the group, and is Camelford Mayor and Cornwall Councillor for Camelford, explained: "The medical centre as it stands today is not fit for purpose; it’s out-of-date, it’s too small."

He has been involved with the programme for around 10 years, with the former North Cornwall Liberal Democrat MP, Dan Rogerson working on it for years before that.

Every time the plans have moved closer to its goal, the NHS has been restructured and they have had to start again.

The history behind the plan is based on two points. Firstly the current building is past its sell-by date, and secondly, both of the GPs, Dr Garrod and Dr Nash have retirement on the horizon. When one of the other doctors in the practice recently went on maternity leave, it was a problem trying to get a full-time locum doctor to take her place.

So it was felt that the ideal scenario would be to replace the building, but at the same time create something that is a bit more attractive to recruit GPS.

That is when Cllr Rotchell came up with the idea of the community health hub — incorporating not only GPs and nurses but also social workers, health visitors, dentists, opticians and chiropodists.

The idea then developed into a health and wellbeing hub, which not only would help people with their health but would also contribute to their overall well-being, and could include services and facilities such as a library, One Stop Shop, pharmacy, alternative therapies, Citizens Advice Bureau and tourist information centre.

Cllr Rotchell said: "If we put all those things together the potential is very interesting."

To take the plans forward a group — consisting of the two Camelford GPS, practice manager, representatives from the patients forum, NHS England, NHS Kernow, Sarah Sims, the community link officer for Camelford and Bodmin, and Cllr Rotchell (chairman) — have met over the last 12 months to discuss how to progress.

"It’s saying to the people of Camelford and outlying area, what do they think about this idea? What do they think should go into a community health and well being hub?"

The group applied to the lottery for a grant of £9,000 to pay for a public consultation. They were successful in obtaining the award from Awards for All.

Camelford Town Council agreed to manage the money on behalf of the group and then they went out to tender for companies to carry out the public consultation.

The applications were considered and on Tuesday, June 21, the proposal went back to the town council to be ratified.

Robert Rush’s company, PFA Research, will carry out the public consultation. Mr Rush knows the area well and was involved with the consultation process at Camelford Leisure Centre.

The three-month consultation will seek people’s views online, face to face and at public meetings. At the end of that period, a public meeting will be held to let the communities know the results.

The second part of the plan will focus on the appearance of the building, drawings will be drawn up and the financial side will be looked at.

Cllr Rotchell said NHS England is unable to build the centre but they can pay the rent for the GPs area.

The community health and wellbeing hub has already generated a lot of interest, with Cllr Rotchell adding: "Already other parts of Cornwall have said it’s something we could look at because they’ve got the same type of problems."

The most obvious location for the centre would be on the current site, as it is located through Churchfield Car Park and it helps to keep people in the town.

Cornwall Council property services have looked at the site and have come up with a valuation as to what it is worth if they chose to make the current owners an offer. The land next to the site is owned by the church, and it may be possible to include that in the thinking as well.

Cllr Rotchell said he was excited by the progress that has been made with the project.

"Over the years there have been times when I’ve despaired. This time I think we’ve got a very exciting proposal and we’ve got lots of support from NHS England, NHS Kernow and Cornwall Council. I do feel more optimistic than I have for a long time.

"Everybody that lives in and around Camelford and that go to the doctors knows that it’s past its sell-by-date and the notion of all things in the same place is a good idea."