This initiative could potentially transform the NHS and revitalize the high street. Imagine having your eyesight assessed, skin lesions checked, or consulting with a specialist without needing to visit your local hospital—while also enjoying some shopping or catching a movie afterward.
In Barnsley, this vision is becoming a reality following a unique shift of medical services from the district general hospital to a newly established outpatient center located within the Alhambra shopping center, which is experiencing a resurgence thanks to this innovative project.
Participants in the initiative assert that it is groundbreaking and pioneering within the NHS. During a recent visit, Health Secretary Wes Streeting praised the project as “truly inspiring,” stating, “What we are witnessing in the center of Barnsley is the future of the NHS.”
This outpatient center was developed through a partnership between Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the local Labour-led council. Hundreds of individuals are now visiting the center weekly for various tests and treatments, including minor surgical procedures for conditions like cataracts, blocked tear ducts, and ingrown eyelashes. This number is expected to exceed 1,000 soon.
By relocating services to this more accessible location, patients can more easily obtain non-urgent care compared to the prior hospital setting on the town’s outskirts, which has limited parking. The increase in visitors is also benefiting local businesses, including shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Michael Brown, the architect behind the facility, explains, “It’s about having your mammogram while your partner shops at Sports Direct, or enjoying a coffee with a friend after a dermatology appointment for a skin issue.”
The center, which opened in October at a cost of £8.8 million, occupies a former large branch of Wilko on the Alhambra’s first floor. The council acquired the space to prevent its closure. Since its opening, services have gradually shifted from the hospital.
Ophthalmology, optometry, and retinal screening were the first services to be offered, followed by dermatology, which began treating patients last week. This week, rheumatology and orthotics care have also commenced operations. Currently, 121 staff members, predominantly nurses and healthcare assistants, have transitioned from the hospital to the new facility.
The trust and council plan to transform the entire first floor of the center into a health and wellness hub as part of their “health on the high street” initiative. Plans include replacing some vacant shops with a private gym, a council-operated healthy eating café, and mental health services from the local NHS mental health trust.
The establishment of the outpatient center was inspired by the success of a community diagnostic center (CDC) that opened in April 2022 within the modern Glass Works shopping center adjacent to the Alhambra. NHS England and Streeting view the growing network of CDCs—which offer services such as blood tests, X-rays, and scans in community settings—as a means to address the NHS’s current backlog of care, which stands at 7.25 million cases. The goal is to facilitate quicker access to tests in more convenient locations, thus enabling earlier treatment.
The Barnsley CDC currently conducts between 50,000 to 60,000 tests each year. The trust anticipates that the combination of the CDC and the outpatient center will facilitate over 200,000 appointments annually. The outpatient center alone is expected to provide 38,000 appointments for adults with eye conditions, 4,400 for children with visual impairments, 19,500 for skin conditions, 10,400 for rheumatology cases, and 4,200 for foot-related issues.
The center’s strategic location is resonating well with patients, especially due to its close proximity to public transportation, according to Alan Heathcote, the project manager at Barnsley Hospital. “Feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting easier access, a better location, reduced walking distances, shorter waiting times, and no struggles with hospital parking,” he explains. Ample and affordable parking is available near the Alhambra.
The CDC’s experience indicates that providing care in a town center setting has led to a 24% reduction in “DNAs”—patients failing to attend their appointments.
Heathcote emphasizes, “For Barnsley Hospital, this initiative represents more than just relocating clinics. We view it as a pioneering model that places health at the core of Barnsley town center. It is about making healthcare more accessible, integrated, and aligned with people’s lifestyles while also fostering the town’s broader regeneration.”
Research shows that each patient visiting the CDC spends, on average, £17.50 in the town. For the Alhambra location, the expected expenditure is slightly lower at £15 per person. If these figures hold true, the anticipated 100,000 appointments could translate into an additional £1.5 million in spending for a town center that faces challenges from decay, online shopping trends, and the cost of living crisis.
“Our primary focus is always on enhancing patient care and experience, but we are also proud that this investment can contribute to the vitality and long-term revitalization of the town center,” Heathcote adds.
The design of the center, including its layout, furnishings, and color scheme, aims to create a welcoming atmosphere that alleviates patients’ anxiety about healthcare.
During a recent visit by the Guardian, the dermatology service was preparing to see its first patients at the new facility, addressing conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and impetigo. Some patients receive UV light therapy to alleviate their symptoms.
For Lisa Shaw, the lead nurse for the service, the outpatient center represents a significant improvement from her previous location at the hospital two miles away. “It feels very welcoming,” she notes.
