Virgin Care is delighted to announce it has opened a new care hub at Bickerstaffe House (on the grounds of Ormskirk Hospital) for its adult community services.

Teams such as community matrons, specialist nurses, dieticians and community therapists who were previously located across the area are now based in one building which will support a more joined up and collaborative approach to the delivery of care for patients locally.



In May and June this year, Virgin Care invited colleagues, patients, carers and relatives to take a tour of Bickerstaffe House to view the new premises and find out more about the relocation as well as giving them the opportunity to feedback on the progress of the project. The new base opened at the end of August.



As part of the project, Virgin Care has invested in a full refurbishment of the building to ensure it is well suited to the needs of its community teams and services and is set up to support collaboration.This forms part of Virgin Care’s wider investment plan to deliver more coordinated community services locally.

Virgin Care runs Adult Community Services and Urgent Care Services on behalf of the NHS in West Lancashire which includes community nursing and Skelmersdale and Ormskirk Walk in Centres.

Debbie Curran, Head of Community Services in West Lancashire, said: “The relocation of services is a key part of our transformation plan for West Lancashire Adult Community Services. By co-locating our community services under one roof in a purpose-designed space we aim to provide a more integrated and person centred approach to the delivery of care in West Lancashire which will ultimately improve patients’ experiences of our service.

“The majority of patients will still see us in the same places they do today - but this change will mean that our colleagues can work more closely together. It’s a really exciting time for our teams who are already feeling the benefits of being in a shared working space.”

Claire Heneghan, chief nurse at NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “It is fantastic how teams have been brought together to enable easy communication and enhanced team working, within a fabulous environment, which embraces the use of technology to support care.

“This is the next step within the CCG’s vision to provide coordinated care to patients who really need it in West Lancashire.”

For more information about Virgin Care’s services in West Lancashire visit westlancscommunityhealth.nhs.uk.