New community hospital in Berwick begins to take shape
Local residents are being warned of the potential for increased noise and disruption...
Last updated 26th Mar 2024
The new community hospital in Berwick is beginning to take shape.
The steel frame of the new building - which is being constructed on the site of the current Infirmary - is now complete.
And 16 days of work's set to get underway on Thursday on pouring its new concrete floors.
With a number of machinery needed for the job, local residents are being warned to expect increased noise and disruption.
Project manager Mark Brough said: “We will start to pour concrete to the roof areas first and this will not need polishing. We will then pour the concrete to form the ground and first floors of the hospital, both of which will need polishing.
"The ground floor will take the most work as it needs a base layer of concrete, then a layer of thermal insulation and then a top layer of finish concrete.
“In total we will spend around 16 days pouring and polishing concrete. For areas that require a polished finish we may need to work through the night to achieve the correct finish.
"The polishing work will result in some increased noise, and we apologise for any inconvenience in advance.
“I know we say each phase of work is exciting, but this phase will transform what is currently just a steel frame into the hospital building.”
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The ÂŁ35 million project is due to be complete by the end of the year.
Last year, a temporary ward for inpatients was built in the maternity car park to allow staff to continue to operate while building work is underway.
But some patients could still be forced to make a 60-mile round-trip to Alnwick for treatment until the new hospital opens.
Marion Dickson, executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “To see the hospital move at pace is incredibly exciting for me, the Berwick Infirmary team and the local community.
"Seeing stairs was an exciting development, so having floors will really help us to visualise our new community hospital.
"A project of this size, in the location that it is, is bound to cause some disruption. I want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding.
“Every day we move closer to being able to provide high quality community hospital care in a really lovely environment, which will make a significant difference to both patient and staff experience.”
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