Public exhibition for new Thame Health Hub

WITH Thame doctors’ surgeries under pressure coping with the town’s fast-growing population, a new ‘Health Hub,’ as featured in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, has been a focus of need for some time.

Now, a developer has come forward with a proposal for a Health Centre, a Care home and Assisted living units on one Health campus and wants to engage the public for their views on such a project.

Cllr Nigel Champken Woods, South Oxfordshire District Council member for Thame ward and a member of Thame Town Council, said: “The Thame Neighbourhood Plan, as well as recommending the delivery of 775 new homes, also identifies the need for improvements in infrastructure, including Healthcare Provision, to support the Town as a whole. Subject to due planning processes this initiative from Hallam Land Management and Montpelier Estates looks like it could provide part of that much-needed additional infrastructure.”

Hallam Land Management and Montpelier Estates have set up a public exhibition for Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at Thame Town Hall from 4pm – 8pm of their plans for a new health campus for Thame on land at the Howland Road / Kingsey Road roundabout, to the east of Thame (on the opposite side of the road to Chinnor Rugby Club.

The health campus would comprise:
• A health centre, accommodating GPs from The Rycote Practice and Unity
Health doctors’ practices and offering additional medical services to
those currently available.
• A care home.
• Assisted living units for residents requiring continuing care services in an
independent living setting.

The Hallam-Montpelier partnership wants to gather community feedback on the plans before deciding how best to take the proposals forward.

Commenting today, Ben Meynell of Hallam Land Management said: “Hallam is delighted to be helping to bring forward new healthcare facilities for Thame. We have been in discussions with stakeholders and the town’s existing GP practices for over two years regarding an ‘all in one’ health campus in this location, and we look forward to discussing our health campus plan with residents at the exhibition.”

John Horsman of Montpelier Estates said: “We are excited to be involved with this project to bring first-class healthcare facilities to Thame. Hosting all these facilities on one health campus brings significant benefits including greater and improved access for residents and an improved patient experience.

“We are very pleased to have the support of the town’s existing GPs practices in bringing these health campus proposals forward.”

NB For anyone unable to attend the exhibition, the details will be available on this website from March 7, 2019 LINK HERE