Stakeholders take tour of new hospital

MEMBERS of the Townlands Stakeholders Reference Group and the Friends of Townlands Hospital were given a tour of the new £16million hospital.

James Wakeham, regional director of NHS Property Services, said: “It’s good that local people have had the chance to see the hospital for themselves and we are working with our NHS partners to get the building ready for services to start in their new home.”

The services which are being transferred from the old hospital will be open for patients on Monday and a formal public opening ceremony is planned for later in the year when the old hospital has been demolished.

The hospital’s new rapid access care unit, which will offer services including antibiotic treatment and transfusions, is not expected to open before May as a clinical lead for the unit still needs to be appointed.

David Smith, chief executive of clinical commissioning group, said: “We are really looking forward to opening the hospital’s doors to patients in coming days.”