CHCP plans to bring care ‘home first’

06 October, 2025

City Health Care Partnership CIC (CHCP) has announced proposals to change the way it provides intermediate care in Hull and the East Riding, which include closing Highfield Community Rehabilitation unit so that patients can be cared for in more a more suitable environment.

People who become suddenly unwell through illness or injury will either be looked after in a specialist bedded unit or be cared for by an expert team in their own homes. Chief operating officer Christy Francis explained the changes: “When we asked our patients where they’d prefer to be cared for, many of them said ‘at home’, so we are making changes to ensure that we are giving patients the highest standard of care in the place where they want to be.

“We also want to make sure that precious NHS resources are spent in the most effective way possible and reconfiguring the service will allow us to do this, giving support to patients where it’s needed most.”

The plans do mean changes for staff at CHCP and the organisation has consulted with everyone affected to support them through the transition. “We know how lucky we are to have such a skilled, compassionate and dedicated workforce,” said Christy. “We are absolutely committed to supporting every colleague through these changes so that we can come out the other side offering a more co-ordinated and effective service to our patients and their families and carers.”

The building at Highfield will be repurposed and although its future is not yet certain, Paul Hillary, Group Director of Finance and Resources, is keen to reassure local residents that it will not be used as any kind of hostel or temporary facility. “We are moving the current service from Highfield,” he said, “and there are no plans to use it as housing or accommodation now or in the future.”