Healthcare provider Nimbuscare has applied to erect extra buildings at its Asham Bar site off Tadcaster Road and use the existing temporary buildings for two more years.
If approved, this would increase the total footprint of the buildings by 171.7 from 555m2 to 726.7ms. Staffing would remain at the current 30 full-time equivalents.
The organisation, which treats 250,000 York patients at 11 GP centres in the area began using the site in 2020 for covid vaccinations before opening its primary care medical centre on the 1.61ha site two year ago.
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Nimbuscare says an ageing population and the pandemic placed GP and other healthcare services under extreme pressure, leading to a need for new models of care delivery, which unites health and care providers, plus voluntary organisations.
It explained: “The Community Care Centre at Askham Bar will provide an essential space to relieve the strain on General Practice and Hospital Trust, ensuring accessible, connected, and meaningful care experiences for patients.
“There will be around 10-20 treatment rooms as part of the proposals. Most appointments are around 20 minutes in length. Some of the rooms need to be reset between patients and therefore the potential overlap of patients leaving and arriving at contiguous times will be less likely.”
The centre would continue to offer essential services closer to home, including diagnostics, preventative care, and the management of chronic conditions.
The site at Askham Bar (Image: Pic supplied)
The application continued: “By localising services such as blood tests, ECG, and long-term condition management, we improve patient access and experience.”
Services would include: Primary Care Services/ Community Based Diagnostics: Nurse consultations including phlebotomy, ECG monitoring, Respiratory Tests and Ambulatory Blood Pressure recordings.
There would also be Secondary Care Services: Encompassing Imaging Services, Chemotherapy treatment, Cardio / Respiratory Tests and more.
The application further said: “The Centre will offer a space where patients can benefit from immediate referral into other specialisms located at Askham Bar. It will reduce the need for hospital and GP visits.”
Recommending approval for the extension in size, the application to City of York Council, also said: “Evidence shows that community-based health and care services significantly improves health outcomes.
“By providing joined-up care within local communities, we will help reduce the need for hospital visits and offer services in a convenient, accessible manner. The Community Care Centre is key to realising the goals of the Integrated Care System (ICS). It will embody our commitment to collaboration, improve health outcomes, and the reduction of health disparities.
“We believe that Askham Bar will strengthen the community by enhancing productivity, maximising resources, and ultimately creating a space where individuals can find holistic, comprehensive care.
“A Community Care Centre at Askham Bar will be more than just a healthcare facility, it will become a community asset that brings people together, promotes well-being, and supports a shared purpose of improving lives across the region.”
