FIRST SPADE HITS THE GROUND AT STRATFORD HOSPITAL
Representatives from the Trust, Architects, Speller Metcalfe as main contractor and Fundraisers were on hand to celebrate the momentous occasion.
This is the first step to the new building after plans were approved on in late October; the new £22 million hospital will be built in the heart of Stratford upon Avon and is due to be completed in November 2016.
The Trust has been working on plans to develop the existing site for two years now to ensure that they can provide the health services needed by the local communities. This new development will also create a number of jobs within the local area both clinical and non-clinical.
The new hospital will be built separately to the existing one and all current services will be maintained throughout the build period. The new hospital is approximately twice the size of the current one and will have appropriate car parking available and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) will also be supporting this development with an energy centre, continuing their commitment to sustainable, energy efficient buildings for the future.
Cancer Unit
This first phase will house a cancer services unit on the top floor. This will include 12 chemotherapy treatment chairs, 2 emergency treatment rooms and a range of facilities to support patients such as a complimentary therapy room. The cancer services unit will follow the same model as the award winning Aylesford Unit at Warwick Hospital which has seen a high increase in demand since it opened in 2008.
Since March 2013 alone the hospital has seen a 17% increase above planned demand for cancer services. With the approval for this new hospital the Trust can bring care closer to home for patients and make cancer treatment more accessible to residents who live in South Warwickshire.
Eye Unit
The first floor will include 8 outpatient consulting rooms, 3 treatment rooms with associated investigation rooms as well as a dedicated area for children to wait. There will also be a state-of-the-art operating theatre making day procedures, such as cataracts, much more accessible to communities who live in Stratford upon Avon and the surrounding communities.
Fundraising Appeal
In order to achieve an exceptional new hospital, SWFT is aiming to raise £1 million needed to create the state-of-the-art facility, aimed at making enhancements that will make treatment more comfortable for patients. Further details can be found at www.stratfordhospital.co.uk
Graham Murrell, Chairman at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is a very exciting time for the Trust. The start of the building work is a key milestone on the way to making our plans a reality. A new Stratford Hospital will mean that we are able to deliver more services locally for our patients. It will bring great benefits to the population of Stratford, as well as the surrounding areas."
Denys C. Shortt OBE, Chairman of the Fundraising Appeal and Chief Executive of DCS Group said: "The first spade in the ground represents the start of an incredible journey. We are now looking for £1million to help make this hospital a Centre of Excellence. We have already had some fantastic support for the appeal and we are now keen to get more members of the community and businesses involved. "
Steve Speller, Joint Managing Director of Speller Metcalfe said: ““This is the third project we have completed for South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and it is clear that their aspirations are simple – to deliver the best services possible to the local and wider community.
“This ethos lies at the heart of our working practice at Speller Metcalfe, and we are proud to be delivering the first phase of such a momentous scheme that will have a significant and positive impact for users and their families across the region for years to come.”