Cumbrian hospital revamp scheme escapes the axe despite coalition government spending review
TRUSTS which have seen their plans to redevelop ageing hospital estates shelved as part of the government spending review were given renewed hope this week as one scheme was given the green light.
Despite widespread cuts to public sector spending, and in particular capital spending, the £70m plan to improve facilities at West Cumberland Hospital has been approved.
The announcement of the funding, which will be paid over three years, came as Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, visited the hospital to honour staff involved in the aftermath of the shootings in Cumbria last month. The cash also includes £10m from the North West Development Agency.
The development of the new hospital can now press ahead
The hospital buildings urgently need updating to enable staff to work more efficiently, allow greater integration with community and primary care services, improve emergency care and increase the number of single rooms on the site.
During his visit, Lansley said: “I am pleased to announce the Department of Health’s financial support for the rebuilding programme at West Cumberland Hospital.
“The need to maintain access to emergency care was reinforced by the tragic circumstances following the recent shootings”
“I have visited the hospital twice in the past and we appreciate how important services are to the people of West Cumbria. The need to maintain access to emergency care was reinforced by the tragic circumstances following the recent shootings.”
And, while he admitted the Government was being forced to rethink a number of large hospital and primary healthcare developments, he described the planned work at West Cumberland as ‘an evident priority’.
He added: “I and my colleagues in government have looked with great care at the case for finding support for the rebuilding programme and, while other new hospital schemes are being considered in the context of the Spending Review, West Cumberland will be treated on an exceptional basis, given its stage of development, evident priority and the relationship with local economic redevelopment through the energy coast programme.
“The Government remains committed to considering all future hospital projects in the context of the Spending Review to ensure value for money and affordability of these schemes. Only priority projects will receive Government support”
“The Government remains committed to considering all future hospital projects in the context of the Spending Review to ensure value for money and affordability of these schemes. Only priority projects will receive Government support.”
The new development includes plans for:
A single operating theatre suite close to ward areas instead of theatres dispersed at various locations around the hospital
A modern A&E unit that is accessible by helicopter and has direct links to key departments such as critical care and the medical assessment unit
An increased proportion of single rooms to meet the 50% minimum single sex accommodation requirement to ensure patient dignity and privacy
The refurbishment of the Women’s and Children’s Unit
The demolition of deficient buildings to make space for improved parking facilities
“There never should have been any doubt about this funding and in the wake of other hospital new builds across the country being cancelled, common sense has prevailed”
Carole Heatly, chief executive of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is just fantastic news and I am absolutely thrilled we have been provided with the major part of our funding and the redevelopment of the West Cumberland Hospital can progress full steam ahead.
“This is a significant investment in the healthcare of West Cumbria and I am overjoyed for the community of West Cumbria that they will now have new clinical facilities that will provide high-quality care for the future.”
Jamie Reed, Copeland MP, added: “The strength of our case has always been irrefutable. There never should have been any doubt about this funding and in the wake of other hospital new builds across the country being cancelled, common sense has prevailed.”
A number of single rooms are included in the design, with views over the picturesque coastal countryside
The hospital will be designed and built by Laing O’Rourke, which intends to capitalise on the coastal setting. A trust spokesman said: “We will be doing everything we can to enhance the experience of our patients. West Cumberland Hospital is one of the few hospitals in England that can lay claim to magnificent views overlooking the Lake District fells and out to sea over the coastal town of Whitehaven and our designers plan to capitalise on this by ensuring that inpatient areas take full advantage of these views and that the facilities are also a good place to work providing a light and airy feel.”
