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Cash boost to improve hospitals in the region
HOSPITALS across the borough are set to receive vast improvements thanks to a multi-million pound investment from the NHS
A local NHS trust is planning to invest 6.5m in improving its hospital buildings as the NHS celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Over the next two years Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust will spend the money on improving 55 of its wards and units that provide in-patient mental health and learning disability services to people of all ages.
Dr Andrew Fairbairn, acting chief executive, said: "In line with other mental health and disability trusts across the country we have many buildings that were not designed to provide modern services, and don't offer the standard of environment we believe our patients deserve.
"Over the last few years we have been proud to open a number of purpose built units, including Walkergate Park in Newcastle and St. George's Park at Morpeth.
"These buildings have made a huge difference to the environment in which we care for people.
"Ideally we'd like to see all our services provided from such modern purpose built facilities, and we have long term plans to improve many of our buildings, including the replacement of the ageing Cherry Knowle Hospital in Sunderland and providing new facilities for our child and adolescent mental health and learning disability services.
"However in the meantime our patients have the right to expect to be cared for in a good standard of accommodation, and over the next two years we will be improving 55 of our wards and units."
He added: "One of the reasons we are striving to become an NHS Foundation Trust is to have the flexibility to save money to invest in new buildings and good quality facilities that provide the kind of environments our patients deserve, and which our staff can be proud of."
The 6.5m will be spent on improving trust run units and wards at: Prudhoe Hospital, Cherry Knowle and Ryhope General Hospital in Sunderland, Northgate Hospital, Palmer Hospital, South Tyneside General Hospital, Newcastle General Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, St. Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle and Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland.
Plus six other units in Killingworth, North Tyneside, Gateshead, Hexham and Newcastle.
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Weather for Whitley Bay
Friday 10 February 2012
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