Work to begin on Wilberforce Health Centre
WORK on a £15m health centre in Hull is expected to get underway in the new year, the Mail can reveal.
Wilberforce Health Centre will be built on the site of the former Gratton store in Story Street, city centre.
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An artistâs impression of Wilberforce Health Centre, which will be built on the site of the former Gratton store in Story Street
It will be transformed into a walk-in GP service – open between 8am and 8pm 365 days a year – for both registered and non-registered patients.
GPs will relocate from surgeries in the area, as well as dental, sexual health and addictions services.
The centre, also a base for paramedics, is being developed by Citycare – a partnership between primary care trust NHS Hull and construction company Sewell Group.
Jo Barnes, chief executive of Citycare, said: "It has been an incredibly busy year for Citycare with the completion of three significant schemes for us – further enhancing the city's health estate for NHS Hull."
Other health projects include Kingswood Health Centre, Bilton Grange Health Centre and The Orchard Centre.
The Orchard Centre, in Orchard Park, north Hull, opens this month at a cost of £14m.
Mr Barnes said: "Now, 2010 looks set to be just as successful.
"We are delighted to have exchanged contracts on the scheme and be starting on site within the next couple of weeks.
"We will be working very closely with local businesses and residents to ensure the construction phase runs as smoothly as possible."
Christopher Long, chief executive of NHS Hull, said: "Wilberforce Health Centre will provide a range of high-quality health services for the people of Hull.
"Its location in the heart of the city centre means that thousands of residents will benefit from a variety of services delivered in modern, welcoming surroundings.
"This marks another step forward in the delivery of real choice and convenience for patients and the public in Hull."
Bulldozers are expected to begin preparing the site in January.
Citycare expects the centre to be open by "late 2011 – slightly later than previously stated.
10 Comments
by Shaun, Hull
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 4:43PM
“The centre is there to help people from all walks of life, lets hope that none of your family or friends never become drug addicts or ever get drunk, because where would you send them.
There's a reason people get in them sistuations and narrow minded individuals like your selfs don't help.”
by delores, hull
Thursday, January 28 2010, 8:28PM
“how are people going to get to the new wilberforce centre theres no free parking for staff,gps or patients disabled or otherwise
the planners havnt allowed for any parking on site. every other health centre has staff parking except this one which when you consider its going to be open 365 days a year is going to be a major problem”
by Dave, Hull
Monday, December 21 2009, 2:29PM
“The centre will provide a service to those who need them the most.
Would people rather have the unfortunate addicts be laid in the streets or have a place that gives them a chance to improve their situations?
I find the comments extremely cynical, the scheme has had alot of effort put into it to help the city's regeneration.
Would it be better if things were left as they were and addicts still attended the converted house in your estates for there aid?
The new centre will provide facilities for all people in the community. The fact that paramedics alone will have facilites, means a quicker response to you and your loved ones.
The reality that the new centre is to be based on an old bomb site can only be positive. The current space is simply used for drug users and squaters, therfeore, does it not make sense to demolish a derelict building and utilise the space for something so positive for the city? You tell me!
The new facilities will provide propper and controlled waste disposal and will eliminate the piling up of used needles and syringes.
I find it highly dissapointing the response to this great new development. You only have to look at the most recent development on Orchard Park to see the huge positive impact that it has had on the comminity.
Please take the time to use the facilities and judge them on their performance, not before the first foundation is even laid.”
by steve, hull
Friday, December 04 2009, 9:36PM
“Give it a year or so and the wilberforce centre will only deal with drug addicts and drunks. It will not do much for the city s image on such a prime site”
by Billy, Hull
Friday, December 04 2009, 6:30PM
“No Pete scrap the drug addicts is the solution.”
by Pete, Hull
Friday, December 04 2009, 5:24PM
“I wonder how long it will be before there is a call to shut the H R I because some drunks use it.
How about scrapping all G P surgeries because drug addicts and the sick use them.
Clinics, hospitals, surgeries and health centres are to be used by those who need them.
Sounds about right to me.”
by Paul, Hull, East Yorkshire
Friday, December 04 2009, 4:45PM
“Hull Daily Mail.
Please take a look at the mess left behind by the service users (drug takers and sex workers) that currently use these services on Myton Street.
Rubbish piled high around the ambulance station, including hypodermic needles, gets worse everyday.”
by Billy, Hull
Friday, December 04 2009, 3:39PM
“Hmm my original post removed so once again reworded the place will be swarming with drug addicts and others will thus stay away due to this fact.”
by Oswald, hull
Friday, December 04 2009, 1:05PM
“theres me thinking the new year is after xmas?
any way I assume that the gratton store is one thats been unused for 25/30 yrs?
one day soon we might even run out or WW2 bombsite to build on............”
by CottBernard, Cottingham
Friday, December 04 2009, 12:20PM
“This will mean the car park on Albion Street losing an awful lot of spaces just before christmas wont it?”