A planning application for Cockermouth's new community hospital has been submitted to Allerdale Borough Council.
Allerdale Borough Council's planners will consider the application for a new community hospital designed by Nightingale Associates to replace the town's existing 100-year-old facility. The new building is being procured by eLIFT Cumbria Limited as part of the NHS Express LIFT programme.
The new hospital will co-locate GP practices in a single building, with additional community and treatment services being provided as well as replacement facilities for the existing hospital. These in patient facilities will be single bedroom facilities and designed to maximize relationships with the external surroundings and landscape.
The new hospital has been designed to make the most efficient use of space and make it as easy as possible for doctors, nurses and patients to navigate the new building. Working closely with GPs, the functional arrangements and development of efficient working practices have underpinned the design concepts, whilst ensuring therapeutic spaces are provided throughout the building.
Nightingale Associates Primary and Community Care Lead, Justin Harris, said:
“Since the flooding of the town centre in 2009, which damaged the premises of the GP practices in the town, a temporary portakabin village has been set up on the existing hospital site, which has provided a temporary base for the practices. The new building shall provide clinicians with a flexible working environment, integrating health services on one site.
“A clear aspiration exists for the development to move rapidly through planning, financial close and construction phases with the project proposed to start on site early in 2011.
Cockermouth GP and NHS Cumbria's Clinical Director, Dr John Howarth, said:
"This is an important step for healthcare in Cockermouth and the surrounding area. GPs, community nurses and other healthcare staff are already working together to provide improved care for patients both inside and outside the hospital."
Designs for the new hospital will be going on show in the foyer of the existing hospital and at other public venues in the Cockermouth area. The building is expected to complete in 2012.
