Living Well Hub, Warrington, Cheshire
In Warrington there is a 10-year difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived members of the community. It also has a significant ageing population, with the number of people over the age of 65 there expected to rise by 50 per cent over the next 20 years.
The town centre-based Living Well Hub is specifically aimed at preventing ill health and addressing health inequalities.
Led by a joint partnership between Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WHH), Warrington Borough Council, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, the Town Deal-funded building is home to 30 different partners and providers from across physical and mental health, local authority and voluntary sector services.
It has a clear focus on different population cohorts on different days of the week – including healthy lifestyles and women’s health, ageing well and falls, families and children. Services range from dementia support and domestic abuse advice to baby weighing clinics and weight management assistance. One of the most popular services at the hub is phlebotomy, which has seen unprecedented demand due to the central town centre location making it easier for residents to access.
Since opening in March 2024, more than 30,000 visitors have passed through the Living Well Hub doors (the hub is also on track to welcome 30,000 people in total this year). Almost half of those visitors have done so on a drop-in basis as opposed to pre-booked appointments – highlighting the demand for an easily accessible facility offering face to face support. Ten per cent have also accessed at least one additional service whilst in the Hub, and many more have been guided to further support in other locations across Warrington.
Aligned with the Living Well Hub is the subsequent launch of the digital platform Living Well Warrington, a ‘one-stop shop’ connecting people to the right services that will enable them to take greater control of their own health, wellbeing and resilience.
The ongoing success of this joined up approach and continued partnership working will help manage expected future demand for statutory and health and care services across the area.
“As providers of both community and acute health services we fully understand the impact of health inequalities in our communities.
“The hub is proof that through true collaboration and working more closely together we can achieve great things for the benefit of our town.”
Nikhil Khashu, Chief Executive of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
“The hub demonstrates the power of partnership working, tackling health inequalities, and providing a ‘one-stop shop’ for health and wellbeing in the heart of Warrington which is helping empower residents to live as happily, healthily and independently as possible.”
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for health, wellbeing and social care.
