Community health hub gets £172,000 lottery grant

The former hospital has been awarded lottery funding

A former hospital in St Ives which now serves as a community health hub has been awarded £172,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund.

The NHS closed Edward Hain hospital permanently in 2020 over building safety concerns.

The site is now operating as a community health hub after campaigning and fundraising efforts from a local community group.

Now called the Edward Hain Centre, the hub houses a diabetic eye clinic, ear cleaning clinic, counselling services, a food bank, and a studio for yoga and pilates.

'More work to do'

A spokesperson for the centre said the money would fund two new members of staff, and contribute to the overall running costs.

The Edward Hain hospital was temporarily closed over fire safety concerns in 2016 and then permanently closed in 2020.

The site stayed closed for about three years, but the Edward Hain Community Trust purchased it for about £1m and re-opened it in 2023 as a community health hub.

Lynne Isaacs, chair of trustees for the Edward Hain Centre, said there was "more work to do" to bring the rest of the site back into use.

Claire Sutcliffe used to work as a nurse at the hospital and now works with the Friends of Edward Hain Trust

Claire Sutcliffe used to work as a nurse at the site when it was a hospital.

She said: "I was devastated when it closed, I felt the need in the community for a hospital like this was great.

"Progress has been good, it's been hard at times.

"I feel emotional because our dream is coming to fruition, it's what we always hoped for and it's actually happening."

Beth Reyhani said she enjoyed working at the refurbished building

Among the services available at the hub is an ear clinic where people can have wax removal, ear checks and hearing screening - provided by Penwith Ear care.

Practitioner Beth Reyhani said it had been "really brilliant" moving to the hub.

She said: "At first people are nervous when I say it's in St Ives, they panic a bit because they think it will be difficult to find and difficult to park.

"But actually it's really easy and there's plenty of free parking."