Grimsby’s unique Open Door GP surgery, which offers much more than health services, has helped even more people turn their lives around since moving to a new premises last year.

Alongside the GP service, Open Door offers health care and social support services, information, advice and guidance under one roof to people living in the East Marsh, Grimsby.

It gives people who have complex needs, people who are homeless or living with an addiction or people who have no GP an opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing.

After moving to Albion Street from Hainton Avenue in September 2013, Open Door has delivered 6,502 nurse appointments and 4,437 GP appointments to people in the local community.

Over 90% of visitors say the nurses listened to them, gave them enough time, explained tests and treatments and treated them with care and concern, while 80% of people described their experience as good or very good.

“Since we moved to Albion Street we’ve been able to offer an even better service to people in the East Marsh area of Grimsby,” said Rob Baty, Operational Manager at Open Door.

“We’re so much more than a doctor’s surgery; people can come to mindfulness clinics and anger management classes and use counselling services. We help adults who need support with ADHD, Asperger’s and autism and we’re a hub of information for volunteering, healthy eating, fitness and hobbies too.

“North East Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been funding our services since 2007 and this year has been a particular highlight for us. The building we were in at Hainton Avenue was no longer fit for purpose and moving to the new purpose-built centre, which was funded by the Department of Health, has enabled us to offer more services under one roof, making it much easier for vulnerable people to improve their health and their lives.”

Dr Arun Nayyar, clinical lead for planned care, explained how important Open Door was to Grimsby.

“Open Door provides a valuable service to people in Grimsby which supports our aim to empower people and support communities. The team offers much more than health and social care support and has helped people to turn their lives around. The feedback from people who use it speaks for itself. I’m confident the service will continue to go from strength to strength.”

A user of the service, who wishes to remain anonymous, first visited Open Door in January for counselling after personal trauma and marriage breakdown.

“The confidence and support Open Door has given me is priceless not only in my life, but also my daughter’s, because my state of mind has a knock-on effect on her too.

“I call Open Door my ‘safe place’: I feel like I can say anything and it is not frowned upon. Things I don’t feel I can say in the public domain, I can say there. I have met some wonderful people from all walks of life and what has really stuck out for me is that no-one is treated any differently no matter who they are. Life is looking up.”
Open Door has also helped Shawn turn his life around. He was taking drugs, drinking regularly and had difficulties paying his rent. The team saw his potential and helped him to manage and overcome his additions, develop his skills and get his life back on track. He is now working as a manager. Watch his story here: