New
hospital
ready
in 2003?
A COMPANY has been appointed as a preferred bidder in a Private Finance Initiative to build the new, and long-awaited, Liskeard community hospital. It is hoped the contract will be signed by the end of 2001, and that the new building will be ready for occupation in the spring of 2003.
When completed the £7.5 million scheme will provide a 52-bed community hospital with l9 GP beds and 33 care of the elderly beds for people living in the East Cornwall area. It will have outpatient and diagnostic facilities including X-ray, together with a minor injuries unit. Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust has appointed Ryhurst Limited as the preferred bidder, and Caradon council has already given outline planning permission for the new five-acre greenfield site.
Alison Montague, managing director of Ryhurst Ltd, said: 'We believe the scheme will provide a first class facility for the people of Liskeard, and we are committed to delivering the scheme as quickly as possible.'
The decision was welcomed by the League of Friends for Lamellion and Passmore Edwards hospitals in Liskeard. Their chairman, Paul Cummins, said: 'The League of Friends are delighted that the preferred bidder has been chosen to build the new hospital, which the people of Liskeard have been looking forward to for so long. They are also pleased to have been invited to give their comments at the earlier planning stages of the hospital, which has led to a proposed League of Friends retail shop, coffee/snack bar and office. This can only be good news for future patients, staff and visitors to the hospital, and the League will be able to continue serving them in the future as they have done in the past.'
Fund-raise
He added: 'Everyone is working very hard at the moment to fund-raise as much as possible, so we are able to provide those much needed extras for the new hospital. The next major event is the annual summer fete on July 21 at Lamellion hospital, where the people of Liskeard are asked once more for the support they have always willingly given to us in the past. Exciting times lie ahead for all of us.'
Lorna Phillips, secretary of the Liskeard Hospital Action Group, said: 'We are very pleased with the choice of Ryhurst and look forward to working with them on the new hospital. The people of Liskeard will be delighted to see the diggers going in to start the new building, and we look forward to negotiations being completed, and work starting on the new hospital as soon as possible.' The new Liskeard community hospital will replace Lamellion and Passmore Edwards hospitals, and the Liskeard health office will be located within the new hospital. The scheme is Ryhurst Ltd's sixth PFI project.
Moves are also underway to bring a possible NHS dental surgery to a site near Charter Way, Liskeard. Details of the proposal were given to Caradon's full council meeting by Liskeard councillor, and the town's mayor, Tony Powell.