Mount Chambers Medical Practice is now offering GP-led services at the new Livewell Hub in Braintree’s town centre.
Some patients registered with Mount Chambers are already being seen in treatment rooms at the Livewell Hub on Manor Street. People who prefer using the practice’s main surgery on Coggeshall Road in Braintree continue to go there.
The Braintree Primary Care Network (PCN), a collaboration of the five local GP practices, has moved into the hub too. The PCN, which includes Mount Chambers, Blandford Medical Centre, Blyth’s Meadow Surgery, Church Lane Surgery and Silver End Surgery, will offer joint services that can be booked through people’s usual practice.
Councillors met with representatives from the NHS to officially open the Livewell Hub in a brief ribbon-cutting event last week.
Dr Ranajit Ukil is a GP Partner at Mount Chambers Surgery and a Clinical Director for Braintree PCN. He said: “It’s great to have more clinical space in our town, as we can now offer specialist care from a wider range of NHS professionals. Along with our patients, people registered at any Braintree GP practice can access services delivered by our joint Primary Care Network in Manor Street.”
The Livewell Hub also offers sexual health clinics, speech and language therapy and pulmonary care to anyone living in Braintree and beyond whose care can be best provided there.
A spokesperson from Provide Community, responsible for the management of the hub and administration of secondary care services, said: “The new Livewell Hub gives our communities access to a wide range of health and wellbeing services. We are able to provide a range of healthcare services to patients including sexual health, speech and language therapy, diabetes clinics, audiology, COPD, spirometry and lots more.”
Dan Doherty, NHS Mid and South Essex’s Alliance Director for mid Essex, said: “Manor Street is a great example of how to deliver modern healthcare. Having different services based on one site will help professionals work together more closely around the needs of their patients. It also sets a good foundation for developing links to other community partners. We hope to see the Livewell Hub go from strength to strength as a valuable asset in supporting residents’ health and wellbeing.”
The Livewell Hub forms one part of Braintree District Council’s £30 million Victoria Square regeneration which includes 35 new apartment homes, 70-bed Travelodge, new bus interchange, public toilets, retail units, garden and a twin level car park.
Cllr Kevin Bowers, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance at Braintree District Council, said: “We are pleased to have played our part in building a modern and purpose-built health hub which is giving thousands of residents access to GP services as well as a wide range of other integrated health and wellbeing services. Our investment into this asset is having a positive impact on our town centre and will help patients within our local communities for many years to come.”
The Livewell Hub is only open to patients with appointments and referrals.
