Jenni Minto MSP, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, visited the Dalmellington Community Health Hub on Wednesday 26 November to hear more about the positive impact the hub is having on the local community.
The Hub operates every fortnight on a Wednesday at the local community centre, and aims to help people living locally better manage their physical, social and financial health by bringing a number of services under one roof for a one-stop-shop directly in the community. The NHS Ayrshire & Arran Public Health team jointly deliver the Hub, with the support of East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, East Ayrshire Council, Dalmellington Medical Practice, and voluntary organisations.
The model is a drop-in service offering a diverse range of support and care for patients and the community more generally in Dalmellington. The Hub was set up as part of a targeted approach to improve the health outcomes for diabetic patients, as the area had the lowest uptake of diabetic eye screening appointments in Ayrshire. By bringing the screening clinics to the Hub, alongside other health, finance and wellbeing related services, people living with diabetes in this part of East Ayrshire are now empowered to better self-manage their condition.
In addition to diabetic eye screening, the Hub also regularly offers:
- Quit Your Way smoking cessation support,
- CTAC nurses (Community Treatment and Care),
- Vibrant Communities health checks (including Weigh to Go),
- Feet First,
- Oral Health,
- Hearing Aid Care,
- Diabetes Managed Clinical Network,
- Dementia Wellbeing Café and Brew and Blether,
- LemonAid (home energy/fuel poverty advice), and
- Smart Support (digital support pilot).
There have been a number of tangible improvements for local patients, including significantly higher uptake of the diabetic eye screening offer, as well as fostering a sense of community and reducing social isolation.
Ms Minto spent some time with staff and service users, learning more about the model, which brings services closer to the community. This is a key aim of our delivering Caring for Ayrshire ethos that seeks to shift the burden of service delivery away from acute sites where possible, by improving access to prevention focused services closer to home.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said:
“I congratulate NHS Ayrshire & Arran on this hub’s success in delivering prevention services and long-term condition management in a community-based setting.
“Good quality early intervention and prevention in primary care are key to reducing preventable ill-health and addressing entrenched inequalities.
“Action like this is helping people stay well, economically active and connected with their communities.”
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Chief Executive Gordon James and Board Chair Lesley Bowie were part of the group showcasing the Dalmellington Community Health Hub.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Public Health Director Lynne McNiven said:
“Prior to 2022, this area had the lowest uptake of diabetic eye screening in Ayrshire, a crucial opportunity to identify diabetic retinopathy which can lead to sight loss if not detected early.
“We also knew that Dalmellington residents living with diabetes had the longest distance to travel for these important appointments. This, along with other factors including the high level of socioeconomic deprivation and disease prevalence locally, led our Public Health teams to look at testing an alternative model of service delivery here.
“We have seen real improvements for diabetes patients in Dalmellington following the pilot, and so we continue to work hard with our partners to bring the Community Health Hub offer to local people each fortnight, here in the heart of the community.”
Alice Wallace lives in Dalmellington and regularly attends the Hub. She said:
“As a senior member of this community, aged 80, I just don’t know what we would do without this NHS Hub in the Community Centre.
“The staff are great at reminding us about what is going on or coming soon. I like to come to the Hub to meet other seniors to have tea and a blether but there are professional people there too, to give advice and help where needed.
“I can see the Diabetes staff, it saves me going to the doctor or travelling to Ayr or Crosshouse. When I’m able I go to the fitness class, I’ve had help getting cheaper broadband, I can get my toenails cut when required and there are Dental staff too. Everyone is friendly and it is a happy atmosphere. I love this place.”
ENDS
Background
Information on what’s on at the Dalmellington Community Health Hub is updated regularly on our website here: https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/dalmellington-community-health-hub/