Isles of Scilly: Health and social care facility planned for 2025

NHS bosses said the health and social care facility was a "fantastic opportunity" to improve services on the Isles of Scilly

A new integrated health and social care facility on the Isles of Scilly will be operational by summer 2025, NHS bosses have said.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said it would be located at St Mary's Community Hospital.

It will include care and inpatient beds, a maternity suite and other outpatient services.

Debbie Richards, chief executive of the trust, said it was a "fantastic opportunity" to improve services.

"Not only will the investment mean we can develop an integrated workforce and a state-of-the-art building, but it will also allow us to deliver more services on the islands," she said.

"We will also be looking at how digital and technological developments will help us better connect the off islands to the hospital and the hospital to the mainland."

In April, the facility secured both planning permission and national funding approval.

'Important milestone'

The project is being delivered via a partnership between Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, primary care, voluntary sector partners and mental health services.

Councillor Robert Francis, the council's chairman, said the recent planning approval was "an important milestone".

"The integration of health and social care services has long been considered to be the best option for the islands," he said.

"It will enable a better use of resources and easier access to the services and also increase the likelihood of island residents being able to stay either at home or close to home as their health and social care needs increase."