Last updated 19:49, Thursday, 09 October 2008

PLANS to link the creation of a new hospital and health campus for West Cumbria into regeneration plans for the area will be discussed today.

Earlier this year, the Government published its master plan to create Britain’s ‘Energy Coast’ in West Cumbria.

Included in the regeneration blueprint was the opportunity to connect new health-related facilities to the skills and experience of the area’s energy industry.

A meeting of decision-makers has been organised by NHS Cumbria to explore the possibilities.

The event, at the Sellafield Visitors’ Centre, will discuss how a health campus could be created around a new acute hospital, with state-of-the-art medical research and teaching facilities closely linked to the area’s nuclear expertise.

Also nearby could be other developments such as GPs’ surgeries and old people’s care housing.

A project board led by North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust is being set up to begin producing the business case.

Maggie Chadwick, chairwoman of NHS Cumbria, said: “We have a world-class asset in the skills and experience of the nuclear sector.

“The creation of a new hospital with strong medical research links would help to diversify these skills into health-related fields such as medical technology and decontamination.

“This meeting is an opportunity to explore these possibilities and help to make sure the health service plays a key role in the regeneration of West Cumbria.”