Hospital ‘still on track’ for £420m redevelopment (From The Argus)
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Hospital ‘still on track’ for £420m redevelopment
7:40pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News By Siobhan Ryan
PLANS: An aerial view of the Royal Sussex development
Building work on a long awaited multi-million pound hospital redevelopment is not expected to begin for at least another year at the earliest.
However, bosses at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton say the £420 million redevelopment is still on track.
Brighton and Hove City Council gave the go-ahead to the ambitious plans a year ago and since then the hospital says significant progress has been made behind the scenes.
The proposals, which have been approved by the NHS South strategic health authority and the Department of Health, are now in the hands of the Treasury and waiting for final approval to release the cash.
Preparation work, which includes getting buildings at the former St Mary’s Hall School nearby ready for the hospital’s use, will start this year.
Arrangements involving moving patients and wards to different areas while building work is carried out will also be finalised.
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust is aiming, subject to Treasury approval, to begin work on the main development in spring 2014.
If all goes to plan, work should finish by the end of 2021.
Helicopter pad
The redevelopment, which will be carried out in three phases, will create hundreds of jobs during and after construction.
It will involve the demolition and replacement of the ageing Barry and Jubilee buildings, an expanded cancer centre and an underground car park.
The existing Thomas Kemp Tower will have a helicopter pad added which means critically ill patients will get the treatment they need more quickly.
There will also be a roof garden plus £550,000 of public transport improvements.
Hard work
Trust project director Duane Passman said: “It has been a year of hard work behind the scenes to bring us to this point. We have worked together with NHS South of England and the Department of Health to refine our business case and both these important bodies have approved it.
“The business case is now being actively reviewed by HM Treasury for final approval. Given the size of the project this is excellent progress.
“NHS South of England has also agreed the majority of funding needed to prepare decant locations for services, staff and patients.
“Work has begun to prepare St Mary’s Hall for use by the hospital and further decant preparations on the main hospital site are timetabled to start in the spring.
“These works are the first physical step towards realising the redevelopment plans for the hospital that have been so widely supported by the people of Brighton and Hove and Sussex.”
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Comments(7)
RK_Brighton
says...
8:18pm Thu 31 Jan 13
I would be surprised if the Treasury didn't quickly approve the funding either...after all, the Government probably are thinking more about the votes in could buy in the city in order to try and defeat Labour in three of top targets.
If it is held up/disapproved, we might take it as a sign the Tories don't intend to fight for Brighton and Hove....which is also good by me and will only delay the hospital a few years as Labour are sure to approve funds if in office.
rolivan
says...
8:25pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Crystal Ball
says...
12:22pm Fri 1 Feb 13
saveHOVE
says...
12:42pm Fri 1 Feb 13
It's future is blighted because of it...no escape as things stand and that's that.
rolivan is absolutely correct about that Kemptown rail line and station. Even if they need to be underground lines, fingers of access from Brighton Station, the lost station before Hove Station and Portslade Station down to the seafront are needed.
Bob_The_Ferret
says...
3:54pm Fri 1 Feb 13
nickd
says...
2:55pm Fri 8 Feb 13
Hove Actually says...
8:02pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Thats the second story to feature that exact sum about public transport improvements,
(Brighton Station will receive the biggest amount of funding for any station in the country with £550,000)
would it be cynical to even think that lying politicians might keep announcing the same money over and over again or does everything cost £550,000 now days