'Breakthrough' in efforts to open long-delayed Worthing Integrated Care Centre
The council has reported a ‘breakthrough’ in efforts to open the long-delayed Worthing Integrated Care Centre (WICC).
The multi-million-pound health centre, which was built on a former Worthing Borough Council (WBC) car park in Stoke Abbott Road, was due to open in January 2025.
However, the project has been significantly delayed following the discovery of legionella bacteria in the water supply and a fault with the water system.
When fully operational, the WICC will be ‘the first centre of its kind in Sussex’, providing a range of NHS services from one site, according to WBC.
In an update shared on September 3, the authority said ‘continued pressure’ on the companies responsible for the building’s construction ‘has led to a breakthrough in the project’.
A WBC spokesperson said: “Long-running and ongoing issues with the building’s water system have meant that it cannot yet be handed over for our NHS partners to move in so they can begin treating patients.
“We will not accept handover of the water system until contractor Galliford Try can demonstrate that the system is fully safe and functional, and that NHS tenants can occupy the building and treat patients safely.
“We appointed West Sussex (Worthing) Limited, known as WSWL, to develop the site, and Galliford Try was appointed as the main construction contractor.
“After we brought in independent expert consultants to investigate the issues, WSWL followed suit and has now identified what it believes to be the causes of the water system problems.”
WBC said WSWL is liaising with Galliford Try to ‘finalise a revised programme of work to ensure all issues are resolved and the building is fit for our NHS partners to move in’.
The authority added: “We share the frustrations of residents and our NHS partners that the building is still not up and running, but we will not take the building on until it is safe to treat patients there.”
A report on the project will be considered by the authority’s Joint Strategic Committee at a public meeting at Worthing Town Hall from 6.30pm on Tuesday, September 8.