Laura Hodgetts
Laura Hodgetts is the Healthcare Director for Galliford Try. She works with our regional teams to ensure that we remain one of the leading contractors in this sector in the UK.
A New Era for Healthcare: Flexible, Accessible, and Sustainable Environments for Care
As highlighted in the Government’s manifesto, GPs are the front door to the health service, and the key to faster, earlier diagnosis.
While hospitals have long been the cornerstone of the NHS, the Government announced a pivotal change in its approach to healthcare last year, shifting the focus from hospital-based care to community-based models. The new government’s commitment to providing more healthcare in the community addresses pressing challenges in the system and offers a blueprint for a more sustainable, effective and equitable healthcare system.
Our Community-Focused Expertise: Shaping the Future of Healthcare Spaces
Across a decade, Galliford Try has delivered more than £285m of flexible community healthcare spaces in partnership with NHS Trusts, local authorities and care providers. These community-centric facilities are designed around people, enabling NHS service providers to deliver care to local communities when and where they need it most. The spaces are designed to adapt and grow as communities evolve, providing facilities fit for the future.
The Edenbridge Model: A Blueprint for Flexible Care
Like many towns across the UK, health services in Edenbridge had become stretched. The new Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre serves over 8,000 residents through an integrated care model combining primary care, social and community services all under one roof. The facility welcomed its first patients in November 2023, providing GP services, a wellbeing day centre, proactive frailty unit, same-day urgent care, phlebotomy, therapies, and various social and community services.
Paul Bentley, Chief Executive designate, NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, said: “Developing this new health centre is a great way to expand and improve health services in Edenbridge. The project is a good example of what can happen when we work together to achieve the best outcomes for people.”
Flexible and Accessible Care: For Now and the Future
The overarching vision of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust was to create a health and wellbeing hub where residents can access care closer to home. The Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre is designed to accommodate a 20% increase in the local population in the coming years, enabling services to grow to meet demand. It’s a true community asset, offering space that can be adapted for different purposes, including community group activities outside of regular hours. Accessibility for all is ensured by a generous 100-space car park, vehicle charging and cycle spaces, promoting sustainable travel.
Sustainable Design Solutions: Promoting Wellbeing for Patients and Planet
The health centre is designed to blend with the Kent countryside, using natural materials to create a welcoming environment. Natural daylight and passive ventilation enhance the wellbeing of staff and patients. The central hub fosters a calming atmosphere, with views of a courtyard garden, and roof lights that bring in daylight and fresh air. The design also optimises flow, separating patients, staff, and goods to maintain privacy and dignity while reducing unnecessary movement.
Aligned with NHS Net Zero ambitions, the building uses zero fossil fuels for heating and incorporates photovoltaic panels for renewable energy, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Worthing Integrated Care: Scaling Innovation
The Worthing Integrated Care Centre, completed in December 2024, mirrors the Edenbridge vision on a larger scale. This all-under-one-roof facility is the first of its kind in Sussex, transforming the way tens of thousands of residents receive healthcare.
The state-of-the-art facility combines GP surgeries, mental health services, pharmacy, and community care in a central location, designed to meet the needs of an ageing population. The integrated approach supports the shift of services from hospital into the community, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment. By bringing multiple healthcare services under one roof, the centre ensures faster diagnoses, reduced wait times and improved patient outcomes. It even delivers some small-scale operations on site, reducing pressure on local hospitals.
The site features a 180-space multi-storey car park, vehicle charging and bike spaces to ensure easy accessibility. The car park also supports broader community access to the town centre, with 135 spaces available for public use at weekends and evenings.
The Worthing Integrated Care Centre’s design prioritises flexibility and adaptability. Its open-plan framework allows the space to adapt as local healthcare needs evolve. Sustainable features such as solar panels, air-source heat pumps, and the use of eco-friendly materials reduce the building’s environmental impact. A fifth of all car parking spaces have charging points, with the potential to upgrade the remaining bays as electric vehicle use increases.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Community Healthcare
The shift to community-based healthcare is a strategic response to the challenges faced by the NHS. By focusing on prevention, improving access, and offering continuity of care, these community-centred services alleviate pressure on hospitals. We are proud to play a pivotal role in transforming healthcare spaces to meet the needs of local communities, creating more equitable, efficient and effective services for patients.
If you’d like to learn more about how Galliford Try can help deliver flexible and sustainable healthcare solutions, please get in touch with our team today.