Senior leaders from the Department of Health and Social Care visit Barnsley to learn more about our trailblazing Health on the High Street developments

Mr Riordan CBE, who spent 14 years as the Chief Executive of Leeds City Council from 2010 to 2024, was given a tour of the Alhambra Centre, where the next phase of our Health on the High Street initiative will bring more accessible, convenient health and wellbeing services to thousands of residents.

Working closely with health partners and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), we’re transforming the first floor of the Alhambra into a modern, welcoming health and wellbeing hub, better joining up the support that’s available to our communities.

Building on the success of our Community Diagnostic Centre in The Glass Works, this next phase of the trailblazing Health on the High Street initiative will see the UK’s largest relocation of hospital outpatient services to a town centre.

Joined by colleagues from Barnsley Council, the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Barnsley Premier Leisure, we were able to show our esteemed guests inside what will be Barnsley Hospital’s new satellite centre in the heart of Barnsley.

Works inside the former Wilko store are progressing well in readiness for eye specialists from our Ophthalmology Services, who will be the first service to move into our new health and wellbeing hub and are set to welcome their first outpatient appointments this autumn.

Other Hospital outpatient services are set to join them as part of a phased opening of the modern, innovative hub, which will include services from a range of our health and wellbeing partners.

Alongside the developments at the Alhambra, we were also able to show the DHSC how our Community Diagnostic Centre is already bringing health and care closer to our communities, a key ambition behind the government’s 10-Year Health Plan.

By encouraging more people to access health and wellbeing support at the Alhambra Centre, we hope to attract even more visitors to our town centre, increasing footfall, and boosting the local economy.

Barnsley Hospital Chief Executive Dr Richard Jenkins said: “We’re excited to be able to provide more of our services in the heart of Barnsley. Our partnership working has sharpened focus on the needs of our community, and moving a further 90,000 appointments from the hospital to the town centre addresses some of those needs. 

"In our eye clinic, patients often undergo lots of tests, and we have thought very carefully about their experience before they see a clinician. Patients will notice big, positive changes as this new space will look and feel like a much better service and one that’s really modern. 

"Our teams are really excited to be involved, and look forward to moving into the Alhambra.”

Councillor Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Tom to Barnsley to show him our trailblazing Health on the High Street initiative. He has extensive experience in health and social care, having overseen a range of integrated reforms within that sector during his time as Chief Executive at Leeds City Council, and his feedback was invaluable.

“This project is revolutionising how residents can access health and wellbeing services in Barnsley, making support more easily accessible and convenient for our communities, and will help us deliver more efficient, effective services alongside our partners.

“It’s already creating an example for other areas to follow up and down the country as we build on the success of the NHS Community Diagnostic Centre, which has seen huge improvements in the number of patients accessing vital, potentially life-saving appointments since it opened.

“It’s also demonstrating how vacant spaces can be transformed to diversify what's on offer in a town centre, bringing a vibrancy back to the high street, and we’re looking forward to seeing the first outpatient appointments transferring to the Alhambra later this year.”

Enabled by SYMCA gainshare funding, partner investment and additional funds from other sources, including our Future High Street Fund allocation, our new health and wellbeing hub in the Alhambra Centre is set to be fully operational in 2028.