Berwick News
New Berwick hospital - announcement and update
17 August 2018
Dear Colleague,
We are delighted to be able to tell you that the plans for the new Berwick hospital have now taken a major step forward.
The plans - which involve co-locating the hospital with an equally brand new leisure facility - have passed both the trust and CCG boards. The final step, approval by the County Council, is pending but all the organisations involved are very positive about the prospect.
The new building will be constructed on the current site of the Swan Centre. Co-locating the hospital with a state of the art leisure facility means that doctors, nurses and other clinicians will have easy and direct access to the best possible facilities to help their patients maintain a healthy lifestyle. It also ensures that the site will remain at the heart of the wider Berwick community for decades to come - just like the present infirmary has been.
It's no secret that there has been frustration locally at some of the delays around this project, indeed we share many of them. However, everyone involved is confident that the project has now reached the best possible conclusion; both for the community as a whole and for our hard-working staff.
Similar combined models have been highly successful elsewhere, including within the region. By including a renewed focus on preventing illness and promoting health and wellbeing, the new purpose-built facility represents the very best in modern thinking, helping people live well for longer but providing world-class care when they need it.
Every service currently present at the existing site will continue to be provided at the new one. Indeed we are optimistic that, over time, new ones will be added; particularly as the NHS and the Council continue to embrace new technology and ways of working.
There will be a period of public engagement on the plans if they receive approval from the County Council and we hope you will take a full and active role in it.
We will make sure to keep you fully informed as the process proceeds but if you have any questions in the meantime please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind Regards,
Peter Jackson, Leader of Northumberland County Council
Jim Mackey, Chief Executive Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Janet Guy, Chair NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group
Elliot Nichols
Head of Public Relations
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Email: elliot.nichols@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk
Phone: 0191 2031512
Mobile: 07966 490736