Published at 11:56, Friday, 04 January 2013

WORK is due to begin in the coming days on a £1.25 million upgrade of the Mary Hewetson Community Hospital in Keswick.

The hospital has received funding from NHS Cumbria, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Keswick Hospital’s League of Friends to improve facilities and provide a better environment for patients and users.

Building work has been planned so current services can still operate with as little disruption as possible.

Dr Maurice Hamilton, chairman of the League of Friends, said: “The project will not constitute a new build but will involve relocation and improvement of the facilities within the existing building structure.

“The implementation of the proposed plans will increase the quality of care provided within all of the hospital.”

The minor injuries unit and management of in-patients will benefit most from the work.

Almost all in-patients will be cared for in single rooms with an en-suite toilet and shower.

The building will be more energy efficient with its heating system upgraded and the fire alarm system will be replaced.

Services will also be improved by introducing more single-sex accommodation and the minor injuries unit, x-ray department and day hospital will be renovated and relocated.

Work is expected to take six months to complete with the hospital staying open throughout that time.

It is part of the final phase of a three-year, £7.6 million investment in Cumbria’s community hospitals, health centres and clinics.

The NHS Cumbria project to bring all community hospitals up to Care Quality Commission standards also includes refurbishing the occupational therapy and physiotherapy unit at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk