Ceremony marks build of new £34million Worthing Integrated Care Centre
Once completed, it will provide GP, mental health, community and dentistry services under one roof
An official ceremony to mark the start of construction of Worthing’s new £34 million healthcare and multi-storey car parking facilities is set to take place on today (Friday 11 February).
Funded by Worthing Borough Council, the state-of-the-art Worthing Integrated Care Centre (WICC) in the heart of the town will provide GP, mental health, community and dentistry services under one roof, as well as providing a pharmacy and additional services for families and young children.
The ground-breaking ceremony will be attended by Worthing West MP Peter Bottomley and East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton, as well as dignitaries from the Council and NHS partners.
The integrated care centre will see Coastal West Sussex CCG, Worthing Medical Group, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust services integrated into one NHS healthcare facility.
Cllr Kevin Jenkins, Leader of Worthing Borough Council, said:**_** “We are absolutely delighted to mark the beginning of construction for this wonderful project. This ground-breaking ceremony is a huge watershed moment for the whole town._
“This care facility will be one of the best in the country when completed. It will also be the culmination of so much hard work from the Council, working in conjunction with NHS partners.
“It will provide first-class healthcare on one specialised site, making it easier to access and in the long-term while also saving taxpayers money without ever compromising on quality. It will be something Worthing can be extremely proud of.”
Mike Jennings, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We are really proud to be a partner in this exciting project, which will provide modern and accessible healthcare services to the people of Worthing and the surrounding area.
“Bringing NHS services together under one roof will make it easier for patients to access a range of support in one place, and it remains at the heart of the local community. It’s an excellent example of how we can work together with partner organisations to integrate healthcare services in order to deliver high-quality care for the benefit of our patients.”
The WICC, which will be built on the brownfield site of the Worthing Town Hall car park, will complete the Civic Quarter and is set to include an adjacent six-storey car park capable of accommodating 186 vehicles and 36 bicycles, with a further 28 cycle bays.
When complete, the WICC will boast some of the highest environmental standards, with an air source heat pump that will provide the majority of heating, as well as photovoltaic solar panels. The development is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023.