News the Primary Care Trust (PCT) for the East Riding of Yorkshire is to hold a series of consultation events for a planned new hospital in Beverley has been welcomed by Graham Stuart MP.
Following the community’s long campaign to maintain a community based hospital in the town, the PCT announced earlier this year it had chosen a site on Swinemoor Lane.
Now the PCT is inviting residents from across the constituency to attend a series of special events so residents can look at the proposed 30-bed hospital plans as part of a consultation process.
Graham said: “When I launched the Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together (CHANT) campaign back in 2005 it seemed the days of small community hospitals were numbered. In the East Riding alone the threat of cutbacks hung over Beverley, Driffield, Withernsea and Hornsea hospitals.
“We campaigned hard and Ministers finally came to their senses realising that hospitals like the £18 million one planned for Beverley will provide good quality health care close to people’s homes.”
And he added: “I would urge as many people as possible to attend these special consultation events so their views can be taken into account by the PCT for this wonderful new resource.”
The PCT said the much needed replacement of the current out-dated premises at Beverley Westwood Hospital will offer modern facilities for local people in a welcoming, open, landscaped setting which is sympathetic to the local rural environment of the Swinemoor.
The proposed building design will incorporate features that make it sustainable and eco-friendly. It will also maximise the use of natural light and will be designed in a way that provides a pleasant, therapeutic environment for all visitors to the hospital.
The drop in events for residents to see the plans will be held at:
- Beverley Westwood Hospital (Outpatients reception), Woodlands, Beverley, HU17 8BU, on Thursday 11th June 2009 between 3pm – 8pm
- Tesco’s Superstore, Morton Lane, Beverley, HU17 9DB, on Saturday 13th June 2009 between 10am – 2pm.
- Beverley Youth Centre, Burden Road, Beverley, HU17 9LW, on Friday 19th June 2009 between 3pm – 7pm.
Anyone who would like to see the information, but is unable to attend the dropin events, can visit www.eastridingofyorkshire.nhs.uk/newhospital or visit the PCT’s display at Beverley Health Centre, Manor Road. Beverley.
If all plans are given planning approval, the hospital could start treating patients in autumn 2011, replacing Beverley's outdated 12-bed Westwood Hospital.
The new hospital is expected to employ around 40 nurses on the in-patients ward, with a further 20 district nurses and 10 intermediate care and long-term conditions nurses also based at the hospital.
