Important checks being carried out ahead of work resuming at new Berwick hospital site
The new contractor for the Berwick Community Hospital project is carrying out important checks at the site that will determine what will be carried out in the next phase of the programme.
In its latest update to stakeholders, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust says it hopes to share details for this phase by early June and it is planning to hold a drop-in session in the summer.
This will give residents an opportunity to view the latest plans and information, and meet members of the Robertson Construction North East team in person.
The delay to the project – and the need to appoint a replacement contractor – was due to Merit, which was the trust’s previous construction partner on the project, going into administration in November.
The update has been written by Marion Dickson, the trust’s executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, and Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management managing director Damon Kent.
It includes the following: “We are in a period now where our newly appointed contractor, Robertson Construction North East, are on site and are familiarising themselves with the site and project, meeting and building relationships with various teams and assessing work carried out to date.
“As with any large construction project, it is crucial that both the trust and Robertson are assured of safety and quality and that we have a clear understanding of any remedial work that may need to be done.
“The above will dictate the next phase of the programme of work, which we hope to be able to share by early June. We will also arrange a drop-in session in the summer so that people can come along and view plans and meet the Robertson team.
“We appreciate that everyone wants the construction work to continue and confirmation of when our patients and staff will be able to access our new hospital.
“We are working closely with the Robertson team to ensure that things are progressed as quickly as they can be.
“We would also, once again, like to reassure you that the trust continues to consider what additional patient services can be provided from the new community hospital and we continue to look at how some of the new services could be offered before the new facility is opened.”