New Berwick hospital plans to go on show

Berwick Infirmary. Picture by Jane Coltman

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is sharing its proposals at drop-in sessions, hosted by Berwick Regeneration Commission, at the town hall on Wednesday, March 11 from 11am to 4pm and 5pm to 7pm.

Staff from the trust will be on-hand to showcase the architect’s proposals for the development on the existing Berwick Infirmary site before a formal planning application is submitted to Northumberland County Council.

Teams at the infirmary have had a major input into the design of the new state-of-the-art hospital to ensure that it supports an improved experience for patients and is fit for the future.

The new hospital will re-provide all the existing services and embrace the latest technology.

It is planned that Well Close Medical Group will be part of the development which will pave the way for further integration between primary care (the GPs) and secondary care (the hospital).

Project leader Marion Dickson, executive director for nursing, midwifery, allied health professionals, surgery and community services at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We know that local people are very keen to see our plans for the new Berwick hospital and we are pleased to be able to confirm the date for our drop-in sessions.

“We hope that as many people as possible, including patients of Well Close Medical Group, will take this opportunity to come along and have a first glimpse of the proposals before we submit our planning application.”

Preparations are already well underway for the new build on the northern end of the existing infirmary site with departments moved to elsewhere on the site, and the car park next to the maternity unit is being resurfaced over the next two weeks.

Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “The new hospital in Berwick will be a massive boost to the town and surrounding areas and is hugely anticipated by the local community.”

Subject to planning approval, construction will start on site in the autumn with an expected completion date for the new hospital of spring 2022.