More than 200 new jobs to be created at new Bourne Community Health Scheme

More than 200 new jobs could be created in Bourne if the go-ahead is given to a new community health scheme on land at Southfield Business Park on the southern outskirts of the town.

Health care developer One Medical has applied for planning permission to build the Bourne Community Health Scheme on land just off South Road.

This will be an integrated development comprising three closely-related health schemes plus associated local key worker housing. It will provide current and future residents with a range of services that complement existing services in a town that is anticipated to grow by up to 60 per cent over the next 15 years.

The proposed medical centre will have the potential to include general practice consultations, dentistry, chiropody, podiatry and minor surgery consultations.

The remainder of the development will provide a registered care unit and close community accommodation. This will enable people who would otherwise have to go into a care home to continue living independently with appropriate support.

The housing has been designed for associated key workers, providing 21 affordable apartments near to their places of work.

Karl Hick, managing director of Southfield Business Park, said: “This development will provide an integrated approach to healthcare provision and will create more than 200 new jobs – the vast majority of which will be drawn from the local population.

“The affordable apartments on the site are also a key factor in the development. House prices have soared over the past few years – pricing many people out of the housing market. These homes will be specifically targeted at key workers associated with this new community health scheme.”

One Medical and Southfield Business Park have worked closely with local authorities and local stakeholders to produce plans for a development that is appropriate to the needs of people in the Bourne area. One Medical’s project team operates similar facilities across the UK and has considerable experience in developing community-based care schemes.

Rachel Beverley-Stevenson from One Medical said: “Over recent years we have seen a shift from a narrow choice of medical provision to a more diverse and bespoke range of services that respond more appropriately to the needs of each individual.

“This new centre will provide the opportunity to integrate ‘traditional’ secondary care services into a primary care environment in line with the recent Government White Paper, ‘The White Paper – Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services.’

“The registered care unit and close community accommodation is based on our team’s experience and what we believe will be the future model for older persons accommodation and care services.

“The state-of-the-art medical centre will bring together a number of clinical disciplines to complement local services currently provided by Bourne GPs. This development will provide independence for elderly people in Bourne in addition to providing the opportunity of delivering an expanded range of services for local residents in order to meet the changing needs of people in the town.”

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