Full steam ahead for health and social care facility on Isles of Scilly

A new integrated health and social care facility on the Isles of Scilly has secured both planning permission and national funding approval.

The aim is to develop and continue an integrated model of care that supports the needs of the island communities and future-proofs services.

What will the new facility provide?

­­The facility will be located on the site of St Mary's Community Hospital and land next to St Mary's Health Centre.

It will include 12 residential care home beds, NHS inpatient beds, and a modern maternity suite. Other outpatient services will continue, including x-ray, minor injury unit, dental and consulting rooms.

The facility and new model of care will provide robust services to keep people at home or close to home where clinically possible. This will include maximising digital technologies and remote support to provide more enabled care on the islands.

Debbie Richards, Chief Executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said:

"I am delighted our joint project has now secured both planning permission and national funding approval. It is a fantastic opportunity to improve the islands’ health and care facilities and critical to ensuring their long-term sustainability.

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

"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. These are designed to reduce health-related travel for both islanders and clinicians, and provide patients with the best possible care at home or as close to home as possible".

St Marys Hospital 3 cropped

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

Councillor Robert Francis, Chairman of the Council of the Isles of Scilly has described the recent planning approval as an important milestone:

"This project is central to protecting and sustaining the health and wellbeing of our whole community on the Isles of Scilly, so I am delighted that both planning permission and national funding are now in place.

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

"The Council is excited to continue to work with our NHS colleagues in the delivery of this landmark project, which aims to improve the quality of life available to everyone on Scilly by reducing the risk of such essential services only being available on the mainland".

This is the first time national NHS funding has been secured to deliver a build that will incorporate care home facilities.

Kate Shields, Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board said:

"I am so excited that national funding approval has been given for these essential services for the islands. This highlights our commitment to working with islanders to put in place the services they need to live their lives, and access the health and care they need from birth through to older age in their own community".

What will happen and when?

The Trust received approval for its short-form business case on 26 March 2024

On 18 April 2024, planning permission was granted by the Council of the Isles of Scilly

The first phase of archaeological studies began at the end of April 2024 and is well underway

Enabling works are due to begin later in May 2024

The modular build elements are expected to arrive on St Mary's in late summer 2024

Between summer 2024 and spring 2025, the Trust and the Council of the Isles of Scilly will engage with residents and staff. This will include workshops and events to gather views on how the facility and model of care will be developed

Work to refurbish the existing St Mary's Community Hospital site is expected to start in early 2025

The Isles of Scilly Integrated Health and Social Care Facility will be fully operational by summer 2025

Simon Corben is Director and Head of Profession for NHS Estates and Facilities at NHS England. He added:

"We are very pleased that the development is progressing at pace. The scheme forms part of the NHS Strategic and Transformation Upgrades Programme and will be a catalyst to an integrated care approach on the Island".