Patients from Merton will soon be able to get a wider range of health services locally. Three NHS organisations have announced a new partnership which will result in outpatient and diagnostic appointments at the Nelson Health Centre.

Merton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has appointed St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust to provide specialist consultation and diagnostic services from spring 2015 when the Nelson Health Centre opens. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will provide ophthalmology services at the brand new centre.

The Nelson Health Centre will offer local residents a high quality, seamless care experience from hospital to home and ensure that the patient is central to all activities. The use of text messaging will help ensure that patients are aware of their appointments in a timely fashion and staff are able to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Patients who previously travelled to St George’s Hospital will now be able to access a range of outpatient and diagnostic services locally.

Miles Scott, the Chief Executive of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, said:

“Primary and community care is at the heart of the modern NHS and delivering services at the Nelson Health Centre will support St George’s vision of closing the gap between hospital and home. We look forward to working with Merton CCG to deliver improved outcomes for all our patients who receive healthcare in a community setting.”

Adam Doyle, Director of Commissioning and Planning at Merton CCG, said:

“The Nelson Health Centre will transform the way that health services are provided for the community, healthcare will be organised around patient needs and delivered closer to home. Selecting a partner has been a rigorous and robust process which has involved many of our senior clinicians. The quality of services to be delivered at the centre is of the utmost importance and we have put this foremost in selecting St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust. We look forward to working with them and are excited to provide first class healthcare in a 21st century environment to Merton.”

The Nelson Health Centre will provide a range of community services including two GP practices, outpatient clinics, minor surgery, x-rays, ultrasound and community mental health services. It is based on Kingston Road, on the site of the former hospital, and opens in spring 2015.