New £5.4m health and wellbeing centre opens in Dartmouth

Dartmouth’s brand new £5.4million Health and Wellbeing Centre was officially opened last week.

Based at the top of town in Dartmouth next to the park and ride, the building gives local people access to a broad range of health and wellbeing services in one place, by bringing together GPs, community nurses, therapists, Dartmouth Caring and Wellbeing Pharmacy.

The opening ceremony, led by David Fursdon, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, marks the completion of the build which started in 2021.

Guests celebrating at the opening ceremony

The centre is part of plans across Devon to "bring health and care services and the voluntary sector together to make it easier for people to receive the care they need, in their community". It also "allows the clinicians and specialists involved in providing someone’s care to work closer together to provide seamless joined-up care". 

The ceremony, hosted by chairman Sir Richard Ibbotson, was attended by David Fursdon, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, alongside representatives from the Town and District Councils, and a number of local groups including Dartmouth League of Friends, Dartmouth Medical Practice and its Patient Participation Group, Dartmouth Caring, and many more.

Sir Richard Ibbotson, chairman at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We were delighted to welcome so many people to be a part of an incredibly important milestone as we officially open Dartmouth’s new Health and Wellbeing Centre.

"The building has come to fruition thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many, and it is truly fit to deliver joined-up health care services for the 21st Century. This is fantastic for not only our patients and service users but also for the wonderful teams which will work there. 

“The new health and wellbeing centre plays an important role in our work to integrate health and care services where people can receive the care they need, closer to their home, and to only have to tell their story to the people involved in their care once.

"We hope the people who use our services will be as impressed with the new centre as we are.”

Nick Hindmarsh, manager of Dartmouth Caring, said: “It’s a great relief to finally be in this new amazing building, an ideal place for us to work with other professionals in support of our clients and the community.

"However, this is where the journey starts as we all make this the very best it can be, seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges together, with and for our community.”

Professor Andrew Eynon-Lewis, GP partner at Dartmouth Medical Practice, commented: “I am really excited that our new health and wellbeing centre is finally opening. It will provide significant benefits to our patients who will be able to access a range of health and care services, and vital support from the voluntary sector, under the same roof.

"Our GPs, nurses, physios and other therapists will also be able to work even closer as a single team to better support our patients.

“We’re looking forward to moving into this modern, purpose-built building as soon as is possible as it provides space to increase our services, provides a better working environment and improved patient access and facilities, as well as parking.”

Sir Richard Ibbotson, added: “I would like to say a special thank you to our wonderful Dartmouth League of Friends who supported this project from the start, and who’ve donated the beautiful artwork that is adorning the walls of the centre.

"I would also like to thank the artists who kindly donated their artwork, the Old Dartmothians’ Association for the galleon at the centre’s entrance, and to Dartmouth Caring and the grounds and gardens team for the fantastic planting and landscaping. And last, but by no means least, a big thank you to our people in our workplace team who have worked incredibly hard to see this project and vison come to life.”

The building project has been led by Torbay and South Devon’s strategic estates partner - gbpartnerships - with the building work carried out by Westcountry building firm, Classic Builders, supported by a wide range of contractors, and our architects KTA.

gbpartnerships has been working with us through the SDH Innovations Partnership since 2021. This 50:50 Joint Venture Partnership is helping to solve local estates issues, enabling gbp to bring commercial acumen to the partnership and leverage investment.

Ian Tuddenham, development director of gbpartnerships develop, commented: “We are really pleased that this innovative partnership between Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and gbpartnerships has resulted in the delivery of an excellent new healthcare facility, with significant additional parking for the residents of Dartmouth and visitors alike.

“Our expert team has worked closely alongside Torbay and South Devon, from the design development period, navigating a complex multi-stakeholder project to deliver a state-of-the-art facility. We look forward to the continual progression of our partnership with Torbay and South Devon, delivering projects that will enhance health and wellbeing outcomes locally.”

Photos: credit Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust: L-R: Professor Andrew Eynon-Lewis (GP partner at Dartmouth Medical Practice), Nick Hindmarsh, manager of Dartmouth Caring, and Tracey Cunningham (Matron, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust)