St. George's Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hornchurch has been recognised as a national example of neighbourhood healthcare after being chosen to host the launch of the government's new NHS 10-Year Capital Plan. 

Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, visited the hub on Wednesday 8 July to unveil the long-term investment programme, which will modernise NHS buildings and equipment, improve technology and support more care being delivered closer to people's homes. 

St. George’s was selected as the launch venue as it is widely recognised as a blueprint for the future of community healthcare. The health and wellbeing hub brings together GP services, community health, mental health, outpatient clinics, diagnostic services and local authority services under one roof, making it easier for people to access the care they need in their local community. 

The government said the plan, backed by a record NHS capital budget that will rise to £15 billion a year by 2029/30, will invest in healthcare facilities across the country to improve patient access and modernise services. 

Recognising St. George's as a successful example of modern community healthcare, the Minister also highlighted some of the wider system challenges that NHS organisations can encounter when developing large-scale capital projects. 

Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said:  "The St George's Health and Wellbeing Hub is exactly the type of project we want to see more of throughout the NHS – bringing together GPs, scans, mental health and community services under one roof, and making it easier for people to get the care they need closer to home.  

“But it took more than seven years to deliver, with costs increasing over time due to bureaucracy.

“Our Capital Plan will prevent this from happening again by cutting red tape and speeding up the approval process to allow NHS leaders get on upgrading facilities and building a health service fit for the future, backed by record investment.” 

Serving around 250,000 people across Havering and neighbouring areas, the hub is helping transform the way healthcare is delivered by reducing the need for hospital visits and providing faster access to appointments, tests and treatment closer to home. 

Irvine Muronzi, Integrated Care Director for Havering at North East London NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We were delighted to welcome Minister Karin Smyth to St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub for the launch of the 10-Year NHS Capital Plan. St George’s is a great example of how integrated, community-based services can improve access to care closer to home. Facilities like this help us meet growing demand, reduce pressure on hospitals and deliver better outcomes for local people." 

The hub has become an example of how neighbourhood health services can work together to improve outcomes for patients while reducing pressure on busy hospitals, reflecting the ambitions set out in the NHS 10-Year Capital Plan.