Council brings health hubs directly to the community

Health coaches at Hackney Health Hubs. Pic: Hackney Council

Health coaches at Hackney Health Hubs. Pic: Hackney Council

Four new health hubs are being launched enabling residents to access a range of health services and activities inside the community.

The Hackney Health Hubs, defined as “co-locating health services and activities in one place”, are funded by Hackney Council and run by local charity Shoreditch Trust. They are based in community centres in four estates across the borough.

Councillor Jonathan McShane, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, said: “The Hackney Health Hubs will put high quality, free health services and activities into the heart of our estates.”

“Health is one of the council’s top priorities and this innovative scheme will give residents more choice about where they access services and support to achieve their goals. Hackney’s community centres are a fantastic resource and the hubs will help realise their full potential.”

Qualified health workers, employed by Homerton University Hospital, are being distributed across the community to provide services to residents who would usually need to access a doctor’s surgery.

New community health coaches will work alongside health workers to support residents.

A Hackney council spokesperson told Eastlondonlines: “Health coaches live locally and are experienced in the field. They help come up with an action plan for a period of up to eight weeks to help residents reach health goals, such as weight loss and quitting smoking.”

Jo Evans, a health coach at the Stamford Hill health hub, said: “I’m a local resident too so I feel I have a good insight into the needs of the community and can work in a non-judgemental, collaborative way with local people to help them achieve their goals.”

Health coaches will be on three estates at Stamford Hill, Pembury and New Kingshold (near Wells St) from February. A fourth hub, at Marsh Hill, is set to open soon and full services will be available in each hub from April.

Leave a Reply