Community 1st Oldham is celebrating 20 years of long-term partnership with the NHS
Over the past 20 years, Community 1st Oldham (C1O) has been working in partnership with the local NHS to deliver much-needed investment into primary healthcare buildings tailored to the specific health needs of the local community.
This partnership came to life in 2004 with the development of our first scheme, Moorside Medical Centre, which opened in early 2006, followed by four other state-of-the-art primary care facilities in Oldham including the flagship Oldham Integrated Care Centre, one of the largest centres of its kind in the UK. The partnership also developed Chadderton Wellbeing Centre, which includes a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym and fitness suite, and library.
These facilities are great examples of our understanding of the NHS Long Term Plan, ensuring each facility has a flexible design that has been able to adapt to evolving health requirements over the years whilst continuing to provide safe, modern, and compliant spaces for the original building users.
Community 1st has a responsibility to maintain these facilities for the NHS. Our supply chain partner, Blue Support Services, provides operational facilities management via their locally based skilled team, generating long-term employment opportunities. Our proactive maintenance approach means these buildings continue to look as good today as they did when they were first built.
Jon Keegan, General Manager of Community 1st Oldham, said, ‘Community 1st is proud to be a long-standing partner of the NHS in Oldham. With a well-established local team, we understand the area and the priorities of our NHS partners. The enduring legacy of this partnership is evident in the positive impact these community health facilities have on their local communities.”
Zoe Openshaw, Business Manager at Blue Support Services, said, “As a local employer, Blue Support Services is committed to maintaining the Community 1st NHS Health facilities to the highest standards. These facilities are valuable assets for our communities, providing essential healthcare services to many. Blue Support delivers facilities management, statutory compliance services, and supports backlog maintenance projects across the broader NHS network. We are proud to assist our front line NHS colleagues by ensuring their facilities are safe, compliant and well maintained at all times.”
Primary care has seen substantial change at both local and national levels in recent years. We take pride in our strong partnerships and ties with the local community, who have worked alongside us to adapt quickly and effectively to these changes.
Our buildings host a wide array of primary care and community services, offering award-winning facilities to neighbourhoods across Oldham. However, our work goes beyond new construction projects.
For over 20 years, we have managed a variety of capital projects—both large and small—throughout the local health estate on behalf of the NHS, delivering a comprehensive range of professional estate services.
We are committed to collaborating closely with our local GP and NHS partners to meet the evolving needs of these facilities. As a procurement-approved partner, we’re also ready for immediate appointment when needed.
In these challenging times, we look forward to continuing to provide a flexible, responsive estate service that supports the goals of the NHS Long Term Plan and adapts to changing local service priorities.
