Construction of the new £35m Berwick Infirmary has begun - and the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust is holding a drop-in session next week to give people in the town the chance to find out more about what's in store.
The building is being pot together by construction firm Merit Health and hospital bosses said they hoped it will open "towards the end of next year". As part of an innovative off-site construction plan, the firm is building and fitting out much of the new hospital at its Cramlington factory.
The "pre-assembled modules" and the "PODs" which make up much of building are being put together at the factory and then transported to the hospital site where they will be installed. That is almost 500 tonnes worth of building.
Read more: 'Doctors don't trust me' - Autistic student speaks out over NHS 'barriers'
The "PODs" will house all mechanical, electrical and plumbing services, while the pre-assembled modules" will distribute those utilities around the building. Marion Dickson, the trust's executive director for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, is leading the project.
She said: "We are absolutely delighted that we have reached this very significant milestone and that the construction of our fantastic new hospital has begun. We have to acknowledge the very long time that people have waited for this and we thank every single person involved for getting us to this point.
"Our staff have been incredibly resilient over the last three years especially, coping with a global pandemic and all the work that has been done on the Berwick Infirmary site. Local residents and communities have been very patient too and we appreciate that."
She went on to say that the new facilities would provide "top quality healthcare well into the future" and a "much-improved environment" for staff and patients. Ms Dixon said the hospital would be something for the region to be proud of.
On March 9 the trust is holding a drop-in session in the William Elder Building, 56-58 Castlegate in the town. This will see locals able to meet the project team, find out more about the building plans, and speak to medics from Well Close Medical Group about what will be on offer when the new Berwick Infirmary opens. The even will take place between 2.30 and 7pm.
Work to "dig out" the site and lay foundations will take place over the coming months. Mark Brough, Merit Health’s project manager, said: “Once we have constructed the frame of the hospital, stairs and floors will be installed along with an accessible rooftop. The building will then be clad and glazed externally to weatherproof it and ensure it is water tight.
"After this, we will install the offsite manufactured components that will form the network of services for the building. We will then be able to fit out the hospital."
Once the main build is complete, demolition of the remaining old hospital buildings, with exception of the clock tower, will be carried out. The car park and access roads will be built and landscaping work completed.
READ NEXT:
