3.4 Now that many first tranche projects where it was crucial to re-provide primary care premises quickly have been dealt with, future projects should contribute towards LIFT's overarching aim of developing new ways to provide primary care services. For example, East Lancashire LIFT has a diverse demographic mix over its three Primary Care Trusts of ethnic, rural and urban populations. A model has been developed where specialist "hub" services are located to best serve a particular population's needs, for example, the population of West Accrington is young and transient and therefore children's and sexual health services will be located in this "hub". More generalist and local "spoke" services, for example GPs, will however be retained within the LIFT area, reflecting the needs of rural communities who may find it hard to access centralised services.
3.5 After a cautious start, some LIFT schemes are now actively engaging wider stakeholders to build in service provision beyond that traditionally associated with primary care. For example, Newcastle and North Tyneside where the Local Authority were instrumental in broadening the range of services provided through LIFTCo. Many of the Council's social inclusion developments, designed to ensure better access to services, work, leisure and housing opportunities, may now be supplied through LIFT. The Council's joint service partner agencies also extend the range of services available to users. There are also encouraging signs across a number of LIFT areas where plans to involve voluntary projects are taking shape. These may be health related but are also likely to offer leisure, IT and art based activities to local communities. For example, two areas we visited had invited their local Age Concern18 group to run services from a LIFT building.
3.6 Flexibility to respond to future changes is not just focused on infrastructure. LIFT schemes are encouraged to consider whether they are sensitive to future demographic trends. The planned expansion of the Thames Gateway19 which covers both East London and Barking and Havering LIFT areas, aims to deliver sustainable growth and has major economic and housing potential. The Mayor's London Plan forecasts significant population growth in the Thames Gateway, but the likely population profile and associated health issues are unknown. In London, an NHS Healthy Urban Development Unit has been established, which reporting through the North East London Strategic Health Authority, will promote sustainable communities by assisting Primary Care Trusts and others, including LIFT schemes, to engage fully and effectively with urban planning and development processes.
3.7 LIFT areas are beginning to think about how they can link into local regeneration initiatives. The Barking and Havering LIFT scheme has included a Strategic Health Authority Regeneration Director on their Strategic Partnering Board to help them understand how LIFT can contribute to local regeneration. Initial ideas have focused on using LIFT to offer affordable housing and training opportunities to the community and to contribute to re-design of the local transport infrastructure. Local employment in LIFT areas may also benefit. Our East Lancashire and Ashton, Leigh and Wigan case examples are both areas that have suffered from a decline in their traditional industries. As LIFT contracts become established, there may be new opportunities to offer secure and long term employment to these areas.
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18 Age Concern is a UK charity which supports people over 50. They provide essential services such as day care and information. They also campaign on issues such as age discrimination and pensions and work to influence Government policy about older people.
19 The Thames Gateway is a national regeneration priority area comprising a population of 1.6 million and an area of land approximately 40 miles long and 20 miles wide, extending from the Isle of Dogs in London, to Southend in Essex, and to the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.