HSJ reports that a national plan to build new ‘super’ primary care hubs in six areas has been halted with immediate effect by NHS England because of a lack of capital funding.
An email from NHSE director of estates and facilities Simon Corben, seen by HSJ, said no further money should be spent, or commitments made to contractors, on the hubs, known as “Cavell centres”. It is unclear if or when it will restart.
NHSE has supported and funded development of plans for six “pioneer” Cavell centres, since Spring 2021. They were due to be led by integrated care boards and bring together GP practices with health, social care, voluntary and community services.
The six were due to be in Lincolnshire, Surrey Heartlands, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Devon, Derby and Derbyshire, and Shropshire Telford and Wrekin.
However, Mr Corben’s email says work on all of them should be stopped until a national programme business case is approved. It means the required capital funding – expected to be around £40-60m per hub — has not been approved.
Full article in The HSJ, 21 March 2023