Oldham family support centre hosts successful open day

The Healthy Gems Hub hosted an open day when they invited the local community to see the range of services and support they had on offer in their new base at Lindley House in Oldham.

The space was recently transformed by NHS Property Services to provide a safe environment for staff and visitors to use.

The lower ground floor has been renovated to create a storage and a distribution area for baby parcels and additional counselling rooms have been created to provide advice, breast feeding support, and a number of other services.

The Healthy Gems Hub’s use of the space is made possible by NHSPS’ social prescribing programme, which looks to convert underused space use for organisations like the Shared Health Foundation who manage the hub.

Social prescribing relieves pressure on primary care as people find treatment and wellbeing services in the community itself.

Overall, the programme is designed to give patients the tools to take control of their own health, which help reduce the increasing pressure on clinical and acute services.

The Healthy Gems Hub supports families at a point of need to mitigate the resource pressure and provide wrap around holistic care.

They provide care packages that include items new parents need after the birth of a child as well as packages that support the wider family.

Connected to a doctor’s practice, they offer a seamless link to all the interventions primary care has available.

Additionally, the hub provides workshops (led by the hub or community partners) on all things health; health literacy, mental wellbeing, oral health, sexual health, nutrition and weaning.

Angie Ouattara, of the Shared Health Foundation, said: “The Healthy Gems Hub is a fantastic partnership between Shared Health Foundation and NHS Property Services.

"The Hub is here to give all around support alongside families in Oldham.

"From health literacy to therapeutic counselling, access to a GP trainee and hygiene packs, the Hub is a one-stop shop for public health needs and an essential part of the community.”

Dan Burdett, Regional Partnership Director, NHS Property Services, added: “It is great to see the space at Lindley House being used in such a positive way.

"We worked closely with the Shared Health Foundation, listening to their requirements to create a welcoming and safe Hub centre.

"This development not only improves the facilities, but should also result in a reduction in referrals to GP and community nursing teams.”

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