The doors opened and the first appointments have taken place at the new Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre – a one-stop shop for health and wellbeing services at the heart of the local community.
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) and Edenbridge Medical Practice will run the majority of services at the new health centre, which will include the new GP surgery, social prescribing and a wider range of outpatient clinics and children's services, reducing the need for people to travel to Tunbridge Wells or Maidstone hospitals for some care.
gbpartnerships develop - developer for the project - provided development management services, letting the design and build contract and securing external funding.
Valerie Bignall (pictured below) visited Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre on the morning it opened for a GP appointment. Living locally for more than 50 years, she is really pleased the new health centre has opened and she has been able to come here on the first day. Valerie said:
“It’s great to see so many services in one place. I don’t visit the doctors very often but the new centre looks great and the car park is so big. I’m secretary of the Eden Active Retirement Association and we've been waiting in anticipation for the new building to open and we're so pleased now it's here.”
Plans for the health centre began more than seven years ago and Edenbridge residents have been involved in shaping the centre every step of the way, from helping to name the building to influencing the memorial garden. Mairead McCormick, KCHFT Chief Executive, said:
“The journey to reach this point has been a winding road and we are so pleased to see the doors opening this week to our new centre. We have created a hub to bring people together, create opportunities and help people connect with their community. This is a great example of what we can achieve when health and care partners join together to provide truly integrated support for the people they serve.”
Dr Anna-Louise Malan, from Edenbridge Medical Practice, said:
“I am so pleased our GP surgery gets to be part of this community health centre. These state-of-the-art facilities are a commitment to the people of Edenbridge.”
Ian Tuddenham, gbp develop, Development Director commented:
“We are incredibly proud to have successfully completed the new Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre on schedule. Working as the trust’s development partner, our specialist health sector experience has successfully navigated a hugely complex multi-stakeholder process to deliver a new, modern facility that puts health services at the heart of the community. The health centre has been designed to be sustainable with no fossil fuels used to heat the building and photo voltaic panels producing renewable energy on site. The high-quality design with striking roof line and a memorial garden, both respond to community feedback. A huge thanks to the whole team including Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Galliford Try, and funder / investor; USS, who has worked closely with us to get to this major milestone.”
Gavin Bridge, Managing Director for Galliford Try Building Southern, commented:
“We are delighted to have reached the stage of handing over the Edenbridge Memorial health centre to Kent Community Health NHS foundation Trust. Not only have the team built a high-quality primary care facility, but they have also created over £7m worth of social value within the local community and supply chain, which is both a fantastic effort by the team and testament to the strength of our focus in this area across all of our projects.”
Contributing to the biodiversity of Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre.
Funding from gbpartnerships foundation paid for carefully selected sensory planting in the Memorial Gardens situated in the grounds at the new Health Centre, including species-rich turf and enhancements such as bird boxes and insect hotels will be included to encourage biodiversity within the memorial garden. The prominent location of the gardens creates an attractive gateway to the site, providing a valuable resource for patients, visitors, staff and the Edenbridge Community, offering an informal setting for therapy and group activities and social prescribing.
Increasing opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in Kent to learn, grow and be inspired.
A donation from gbpartnerships foundation to Bore Place in June 2022 went towards educational programmes for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people from across the local area. Bore Place located near Edenbridge, Kent, is working to create a better future by providing a place that brings sustainability to life and offers opportunities to learn, grow and be inspired.
Home to the charity the Commonwork Trust, Bore Place is set in 500 acres of countryside, encompassing an organic dairy farm, organic market gardens, conference centre and environmental education centre.
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