Community health services on offer at Hull's KC Stadium

The city’s primary care trust (PCT) is joining forces with Hull FC at the KC Stadium to tackle health problems in Hull.

Hull And Healthy at the KC Stadium has been developed as an alternative to the healthy living centre which was originally planned as part of the redevelopment of the Boulevard in west Hull.

From left, Hull FC's James Rule, NHS Hull's Kath Lavery, former Hull FC player and charity fundraiser Steve Prescott and NHS Hull's Peter Brown.

In March, the city council’s cabinet agreed to move forward plans to create an academy in the west of the city to replace Endeavour High School in Beverley Road.

The Boulevard has been identified as a possible site for the academy.

Now, NHS Hull and Hull FC have drawn up new plans to utilise existing space on the ground floor at the KC Stadium to ensure health services can start to be offered before the end of the year.

The community services, which will be available from December, will include help with weight management, stopping smoking and alcohol support, health checks and advice on healthy lifestyles.

Hull And Healthy was being officially launched today ahead of the last home match of Hull FC’s regular season against Leeds Rhinos at the KC Stadium.

Kath Lavery, chair of NHS Hull, said: “It’s a great day. The location couldn’t be better. This is a real opportunity to improve your health by working alongside one of the city’s premier sporting clubs.

“That must be a huge incentive for people to improve their lifestyle.”

The scheme will run for a minimum of three years at a total cost of £400,000 to NHS Hull.

This compares with a £700,000 investment over five years for the previous Boulevard proposal.

NHS Hull expects to help more than 9,000 people through the base at the KC Stadium in the first year alone and more than 28,000 over the three years of the scheme.

Hull FC chief executive James Rule said he was “hugely disappointed” the centre, as well as relocating the club’s training base, at the Boulevard was not possible.

However, he said he is delighted the partnership will now be in place with NHS Hull at the KC Stadium.

He said: “To be doing something so groundbreaking in such a wonderful location as the KC Stadium, is really exciting.

“It’s something we will be very proud of if we can make a genuine difference to the health of the people of Hull.”