The Denaby Springwell Centre has been specially designed to provide improved services to cater for the multiple and complex health and social needs of residents of this ex-mining community.

A key outcome of the Denaby Springwell Centre has been to provide community access to enhanced library services, including the internet. As an area of high deprivation, and low educational attainment, it has been important to provide a Centre which provides health services (Primary Care Trust and GP) and opportunities for improving numeracy and literacy. The Centre also provides space for family services, including parent and baby classes and ante-natal sessions. The co-location of these services and the new community-based library is a great example of joined-up local regeneration.

The local Mayor, Martin Winter, said “This partnership working brings Council and Health services together under one roof to provide services for residents in the heart of their community. The brand new library provides a range of services where people can borrow a wide range of books, get DVDs and CDs out on loan and use the computers and internet for free.”

Community Solutions for Primary Care have developed the Vermuyden Centre in Thorne which services the needs of 15,300 patients and is a multiple and complex health and social care facility with services including:

• Two GP surgeries and other health services such as a sexual health clinic, minor surgery, a community pharmacy and a diagnostic suite
• Voluntary sector meetings
• Mental health services
• Full library service
• Welfare advice

The Vermuyden Centre provides a large, open plan office for the Doncaster Council’s Neighbourhood and Social Services team.  The first floor also houses Doncaster PCT’s outreach services (Community Nursing, District Nurses, School Nurses) and the two organisations have shared informal areas; including tea and coffee making facilities.  This has enabled extensive opportunity for joint working and collaboration between departments and agencies, particularly for services to vulnerable people, the young and the old.