Flint to get £5m investment for new integrated health and social care centre.

A £5m investment to develop a new integrated health and social care centre in Flint has been approved by Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford.
The new centre will accommodate two of the town’s GP practices, community clinics, community dental services, occupational therapy and social services and provide a base for district nurses and health visitors.

A number of new services will also be relocated in Flint, including physiotherapy assessment, adult community mental health and a range of consultant-led clinics providing diagnosis, review and prescribing for patients who would otherwise be seen in hospital; these clinics will be supported by telemedicine technology.

The new centre will also provide local access to a range of third sector information and advice services, including strengthened provision for carers groups and services.

“I’m very pleased to approve this £5m investment for the development of the integrated health and social care centre for Flint – this is a key element of the combined £30m public sector investment being made in the regeneration of the town.

“The new centre will help improve outcomes for the local population by bringing health and social services together under one roof, allowing us to provide enhanced, joined-up services closer to people’s homes.

“This multi-million pound investment in health and social care in Flint puts an emphasis on prevention, self-management and local services, which will help people to maintain their independence at home for longer and will contribute to improved patient outcomes and make local services more sustainable in the longer term.”

The new centre will replace and integrate services and accommodation provided from a number of sites, including Borough Grove Clinic and the former Flint Hospital.

It is one of three integrated health and social care centres being developed across North Wales, alongside Llangollen and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Flint Hospital Campaign

The Flint Hospital Campaign group welcomed the announcement by Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford.

Noting that this is the 3rd or 4th time that the investment has been announced Campaign Chair Mike Evans described the move as positive if it meant the delayed project could finally commence to the build stage.

The Campaign Group particularly welcome the new services that have been announced, noting the commitment to provide consultant-led clinics and adult mental health services, which will reduce the frequency with which local people will need to travel to and visit District General Hospitals.

The closure of the much valued community hospital has been felt acutely by many people within Flint, Bagillt and surrounding areas and led to a protest march of over 2000 people and the UK’s first community generated referendum on health which resulted in 99.3% of votes calling for the return of intermediate and end of life care beds for those to whom enhanced care at home is not suited or viable.

The new primary care centre will not address this vital and unresolved issue, and the first minister Carwyn Jones recognised this at his recent ‘Carwyn Connects’ meeting in Mold when he said “The beds issue in Flint still needs to be resolved – I recognise that”.

The campaign group therefore welcomes that the new health board has recognised this concern and has announced that it is keen to work with the local community and wider stakeholder groups to address the issue of intermediate and end of life care bed provision within the town which can compliment the new centre.

The board now needs to work at pace to develop and implement their plans.

The campaign group will continue to work positively with the health board to come up with innovative and forward thinking solutions.