New website for hospital plans

Berwick residents are being given another opportunity to see the proposal for a new £25million hospital in the town.
The current Berwick Infirmary.The current Berwick Infirmary.
The current Berwick Infirmary.

Following community engagement last month, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is inviting the public to view plans on a new website – www.berwickcommunityhospital.co.uk – before the planning application is submitted.

The trust had intended to hold a drop-in session in the town, but this is now not possible due to the current Government restrictions as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

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On the website, people will be able to look at the plans for the new development on the existing Berwick Infirmary site and make comments before the consultation closes at 5pm on Monday, April 20.

Those without access to the internet can call 0191 2615685.

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 new development, which will pave the way for further integration between primary care (the GPs) and secondary care (the hospital).

The resurfacing of the car park next to maternity has been completed and next to the minor injuries unit is now the only way to access the hospital, as the number of entrances have been reduced across the trust to help further reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Marion Dickson, executive director for nursing, midwifery, allied health professionals, surgery and community services at the trust, said: “Whilst dealing with the evolving coronavirus situation must be the trust’s top priority, building our new Berwick hospital remains an important project for us and we’re very keen to keep it on track.

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“Circumstances have meant we’ve had to change the way we’re carrying out the next stage of the process.

“But please be assured that people will have the same amount of information on the new website and a telephone number is available if residents have difficulty accessing the internet.”

Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “I encourage everyone to take some time to look at the plans and submit their comments.”