By Gillian Ellison

Last updated at 11:35, Friday, 21 September 2012

Hospital bosses are trying to find more funding for the West Cumberland Hospital redevelopment.

West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven

Chief executive of the Northumbria health trust running the two hospitals in north and west Cumbria, Jim Mackey, revealed they were trying to “identify additional sources of income” to help improve the remaining buildings and upgrade equipment.

He said the design of the hospital, being built around some of the current buildings, would not have been their ideal choice.

But he said: “We need to make sure it feels brand new and make sure it is refurbished to a really good standard.”

The contract deal for the delay-hit £90 million development has to take place before November 23.

Until then, a team from Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust – which is in the process of taking over the hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle – is looking at plans to make sure they are right.

Ann Farrar, chief operating officer of the Northumbria trust and now in charge of the two hospitals, reassured people that the Whitehaven redevelopment will still happen on the existing site.

Mr Mackey added: “No-one is going to downgrade services. We will make sure we deliver services of the highest standard to go forward. No NHS services stand still, there are very innovative ways to provide care in a local setting.”

The health chiefs confirmed that the takeover of the North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust was “as is”, which means the services currently at the hospital would remain.

Regarding finances – which is the reason the two hospitals are being taken over – Mr Mackey said that he wanted to see the Carlisle hospital – built using controversial PFI funding – brought into NHS ownership. In the meantime he said they will aim and get a better deal, but stressed that extra Government cash already secured means the mortgage can no longer be an excuse for financial crisis.

Mrs Farrar will be looking at other ways the trust can meet this year’s £16.9m savings target. She believes the answer lies with clinical staff – and focusing on quality first. By improving services and putting frontline staff in the driving seat, she is confident money will stop being wasted.

It is hoped redundancies will be avoided when the two trusts merge, but senior management and back office staffing issues will be looked at.

First published at 11:29, Friday, 21 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk