Health trust pledge over completing delayed Berwick hospital and remedial work details revealed

But speaking to the Gazette, two of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s key directors have stressed that rumours the building will need to be knocked down are incorrect and pledged that the project will be completed as soon as practically possible.

And with a programme of remaining works being finalised with the new contractor, residents will be able to see the information for this at a public engagement session – which is currently being planned to take place in early December.

After some initial delays, as late as 2023 there had been hope the hospital would open this year.

However, there has been a further delay due to original contractors Merit collapsing into administration. Gateshead-based firm Robertson Construction are now on site, but work is not expected to restart in full until the new year.

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management managing director Damon Kent said: “The exterior of the building is there to stay. It doesn’t need to be demolished.

“But remedial work is required to take place in the coming weeks. This includes removing some of the pipes, wires and medical service gas connections.

“Robertson Construction can then move on to the remaining works and we’re currently finalising with them what needs to be done to complete the project.

“As we’ve previously stated, completion of the build is likely to be spring or summer 2028.”

The Conservatives group in Northumberland this week publicly stated that it is supporting calls for an inquiry into the project.

Mr Kent said he was limited to what he can say about Merit at the moment as there is a legal process on-going, but he did say that the trust followed a full “public sector procurement framework” method for appointing the company, which had gone through a process to be included as part of the framework.

He added: “We do a post project evaluation on all of our projects, but I accept that there are an unusual set of circumstances in this case.”

Endoscopy services will be available at the new hospital, bringing them back to Berwick for the first time in many years, and other new services will include gynaecology and colposcopy.

Northumbria Healthcare is also looking at having services such as audiology, dental and dermatology being available in Berwick more often.

Marion Dickson, the trust’s executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, said: “We’re committed to getting the new hospital built and open as soon as we can.

“We’re just as disappointed as the people in Berwick and surrounding areas with the delays and and we understand the anger about the delays, but we’ve also had a lot of support from local residents.

“Our staff have been amazing as always and they have been coping extremely well during this period in getting on with things at the infirmary as best they can.

“The surgery next door has been very supportive as well.”