New - Bracknell Forest Centre For Health
To modernise, expand and improve the facilities of existing services in Bracknell Forest to create better services and experiences for patients, service users and health and care staff.
What services will it provide ?
Service delivery will be combined with the existing Skimped Hill site in Bracknell Town centre so that we can expand the services available in the town centre.
GP services (Evergreen Practice and Forest Health Group), maternity services (Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust) and some children and young people’s and community services (Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust) will move into the new building which will enable us to bring together other community services delivered elsewhere in Bracknell to give a wider range of services across the two sites.
What are the benefits of the new building ?
It will be purpose-built to the needs of organisations which will be based in it. It will be more spacious than the current building and will meet or exceed all requirements (accessibility, size) for buildings of its type.
Where will the Centre for Health be built and is the site accessible ?
Immediately next door to the existing building so it has the same transport links as before. There will be patient/service user parking on site and there are bus stops on the adjoining Skimped Hill Lane and High Street. The railway station is less than 500 metres walk from the site.
Who decided on the location ?
A project board was set up between the organisations which will be housed in the building, as well as Bracknell Forest Council and NHS Frimley
Integrated Care Board, which has secured national funding for the project. A lengthy options appraisal was carried out to consider the size and the requirements of the new building and available land in Bracknell. Skimped Hill was deemed the most suitable and also offers the smoothest transfer from the existing building to the new for patients and service users.
What stage are you at in the process towards building this facility ?
The aim is to submit a planning application for the building in April 2024. Subject to approval, we are hoping to be able to begin construction in July 2024 and to complete the build in early Spring 2025 with occupation thereafter
Will existing services at Skimped Hill, be impacted during building work ?
Services will continue as normal during construction. The new building site may be next door to the current medical facility but it is a separate plot of land, so while there will be some general impact from site traffic and construction noise, it is not anticipated that there will be any significant disruption or loss of service
Will there be any impact on parking at the site while building work takes place ?
Although the works are taking place on an adjoining plot we are taking up the whole of the next door site for construction, we will need to set up a compound in the car park for machinery and materials when not in use. We are identifying additional parking for staff nearby. Patients will still be able to park on site.
You can keep up to date with frequently asked questions and updates on progress h https://insight.frimleyhealthandcare.org.uk/bfintegratedcarehubere
