A NEW and innovative Health Inequality Hub is soon to offer support to Launceston residents.
Patients of Launceston Medical Centre and Tamar Valley Health GP practices will soon have access to a new hub which hopes to offer support closer to home.
Proposed by the PCN (Primary Care Network) and Volunteer Cornwall, the hub is a shared initiative aiming to reduce gaps between services. It is designed to work on the prevention of health problems as well as earlier identification with support closer to home and at a community level wherever possible. The hub is also about providing holistic intervention and meaningful contacts within our community.
The hope is to ease the strain on Launceston’s two medical services, enabling them to work more effectively at a clinical level.
The Health Inequality Hub will be a community venture, clinically led, and engage third sector and volunteer support.
A spokesperson from the project said: “The GP practice is liaising with Derriford Hospital and the community NHS services to embed outpatient support in our town centre. Volunteer Cornwall aims to ensure a personalised approach to meeting the clinical, emotional, and social needs as well as the aspirations of a person.”
Cllr Joan Heaton from Launceston Town Council and Launceston Medical Centre PPG, said: “Many groups and organisations have expressed an interest and services will be advertised widely. The Health Inequality Hub is an exciting initiative proposed by Dr Rebecca Magill, Clinical Psychologist at Launceston Medical Centre.”
Dr Rebecca Magill told the Post: “The hub is an essential component in addressing health inequalities in our area. We need to help people out of the river as well as working on how and why they are falling in the first place.”
It is proposed that the hub with take up residence at the former property of Downton’s Dry Cleaners on Exeter Street. It is expected to officially open early in 2024.
Updates on the project can be found on the Launceston Medical Centre Facebook page.