A £497k project at One Life Hartlepool Medical Centre (OLH) to remodel underutilised space has begun, which will allow an adult community mental health team at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) to move into newly upgraded space on the ground and first floor of the building. The project will see the mental health team relocate to a modern, core, accessible health centre within the heart of the community, providing a high-quality therapeutic environment for service users and NHS staff.
Community Health Partnerships (CHP) has provided £497k in capital funding, demonstrating its commitment to supporting TEWV and enhancing access to mental health services for residents. This investment will enable the reconfiguration of underutilised space on the ground and first floors of One Life Hartlepool, and once completed the building will be fully utilised.
The project reached financial close in February, with CHP capital funding enabling the project reconfiguration works to begin in March 2025 with the work expected to take approximately four months.
Partnership working for improved mental health services
CHP is working in partnership with stakeholders including the teams at TEWV, NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, Durham and Tees Community Ventures (LIFTCo) and Sewell Advisory on the project. TEWV are the mental health and learning disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby. The Trust’s capital, estates and clinical teams were involved in the design of the new area.
TEWV is a member of the Tees Valley Strategic Estates Group whose core aim is to optimise building usage under the umbrella of the One Public Estate. TEWV’s strategic estates team is working with partners, including CHP, to support clinical teams to deliver care in more accessible community settings. This is part of the national Community Mental Health Transformation Programme (CMHTP), which supports people to live well in their communities and help them receive the right care at the right time.
Modern, Accessible Mental Health support at One Life Hartlepool
The adult mental health community team will move from their current base into a modern, core, accessible health centre in the heart of the community. Placing mental health teams in community buildings such as One Life helps to reduce mental health stigma. Also, for TEWV staff, the upgraded area enables closer working with other services based in One Life Hartlepool, which will improve access for more people.
The re-modelling project across two floors will also provide an improved therapeutic environment for service users on the ground floor of One Life Hartlepool. Facilities include:
- a remodelled reception area
- seven clinical rooms
- a ‘quiet call’ room to talk to service users
- three upgraded toilets, including an accessible toilet
- administration rooms, hot desk areas, and a meeting room
Previously, these areas in One Life Hartlepool were occupied by a sexual health service and a minor injuries unit; these teams had vacated the space.
The building will be fully utilised and occupied once the project is completed.
Our teams are excited to be moving into the space at One Life. We feel it will offer our clinical teams a much-improved working environment and help us deliver the best care to the people of Hartlepool.
Moving the community adult mental health team from an outdated location into One Life Hartlepool, a modern, accessible health centre, will make a real difference for people living with mental health conditions. It is always satisfying to see a project move from concept to reality; At CHP, we believe in the strength of partnerships, working with TEWV Trust, the NENC ICS, the LIFTCo and the project management team from Sewell Advisory to deliver this new base for the community mental health team. Providing £497k funding shows our commitment to making a tangible difference for local communities in Hartlepool. This project is a key part of our ongoing work to improve healthcare facilities across the North East.
The project to relocate the Community Adult Mental Health team to One Life Hartlepool further expands the range of services delivered from the building, providing a health hub for the local community and those requiring support and care. Through our strong partnership with CHP and working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, we have managed to deliver financial close on the scheme to tight timescales, supporting CHP’s PACE programme and increasing overall productivity of the building. I am excited to see the construction element of the project completed to support TEWV in delivering this vital service for patients.
Upon completion, the project will significantly enhance the quality of care provided to people living with mental health challenges in Hartlepool.
By relocating to One Life Hartlepool, the adult community mental health team will be better equipped to deliver effective care within a modern and accessible setting. This project underscores CHP’s commitment to investing in community health infrastructure, supporting the delivery of high-quality mental health services.
CHP’s PACE Programme
The relocation of adult community mental health services into One Life Hartlepool supports CHP’s commitment to the PACE (Productivity Acceleration in Community Estates) Programme, a national CHP initiative to prioritise the delivery of opportunities to increase productivity across the LIFT estate. CHP will continue to work with and support ICBs and Trusts in their strategic initiatives to identify potential opportunities.
Read more about CHP PACE projects: PACE
About One Life Hartlepool Medical Centre
Community Health Partnerships is the Head Tenant for One Life Hartlepool (OLH), one of 308 LIFT healthcare buildings across England with the building owned by Durham and Tees Community Ventures Ltd (LIFTCo). OLH which opened in 2010, is a three-storey, 6,400m2 healthcare facility providing diverse health services for the local community in Hartlepool.
There are three GP practices based at OLH. Current services at One Life Hartlepool include podiatry, respiratory services, musculoskeletal teams, diabetic clinics, eye screening, and audiology services as well as a community speech and language service. There is also an X-ray on site. There is also a specialist dental service for patients with complex needs, serving the local community.
As with most CHP buildings, bookable rooms are available for sessional services and there are also two large meeting rooms. The health centre has good transport links and is a busy neighbourhood hub for the local community.
AccessAble Guide: One Life Hartlepool Medical Centre
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