Barnsley outpatient services to move to shopping centre

Parts of the busy shopping centre is set to become a health hub

Outpatient appointments could be moved into a Barnsley shopping centre to ease pressure at the town's hospital.

Barnsley Council said relocating some services to the Alhambra could save up to 100,000 visits to the hospital and boost footfall in the town centre.

The proposal is part of the authority's plan to create a health and wellbeing hub on the site.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said the aim was to make access to health services more accessible.

The proposal comes after the council bought the leasehold of the shopping centre in September.

Bob Kirton, Barnsley Hospital managing director, said he hoped the proposed move would help reduce the number of missed appointments.

"Feedback from staff and patients has consistently demonstrated Barnsley town centre is a popular and convenient location for healthcare appointments," he said.

"Locating some of our outpatient hospital services in Barnsley's Alhambra shopping centre will ultimately mean acute hospital services will have more space available to accommodate patients, staff, and facilities."

Other plans for the Alhambra include what has been described as a "Your Space Feel Good Hub".

Run by Barnsley Premier Leisure the hub would offer a variety of different health, fitness, and wellbeing activities.

Bob Kirton said the move would see fewer people missing appointments

The proposal come after a Community Diagnostic Centre, offering services - including ultrasounds, X-rays, and blood services - opened in the town's Glass Works development in April 2022.

A council spokesperson said the CDC had resulted in a 22% increase in uptake in breast screening appointments.

South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, who agreed £4.5m of funding for the project, said: "The new health and wellbeing hub in Barnsley town centre will build on the work of the brilliant screening centre, by putting even more vital services and facilities at the heart of the town."