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Redevelopment of Newmarket Community Hospital site begins
As part of the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment to providing excellent healthcare for all, work is set to begin on redeveloping the Newmarket Community Hospital site, bringing more services closer to those living in the west of the region.
Following the approval of plans by the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) in October 2022, West Suffolk Council have now approved planning permission for a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) at Newmarket Community Hospital.
The CDC will provide communities with quicker access to approximately 100,000 tests every year, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, ultrasound, cardiology, lung functions and blood tests. Once open, this facility will be a vital tool in helping the Trust expand its capacity, reduce waiting times and speed up the time between patients having tests and getting results, and if required, beginning treatment.
Representing a capital investment from the national CDC programme of almost £15 million, this project showcases the Trust’s commitment to providing more personalised care in its communities, reducing both the time spent travelling to appointments and the costs associated with this.
Dr Ewen Cameron, chief executive of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This represents a significant step in developing our Newmarket Community Hospital site and builds on our ambition to provide the care you need, closer to home.
“Having additional diagnostic capacity will ensure we can carry out your test at the earliest opportunity, provide your results more quickly and therefore, if necessary, provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”
Whilst the CDC is being built, services will be provided from temporary structures, such as the mobile X-ray unit already onsite, or from the Newmarket Community Hospital building itself. This will ensure that any disruption is minimised, and services aren’t moved away from those living in the local area.
Demolition of the existing structure will begin later this month, July 2023, and construction will commence later in the summer, continuing into next year. The demolition work will be undertaken by our appointed contractor, Harte Demolition. The Trust is working to have this facility open for spring 2024.
Due to these works, there will be a slight reduction in parking availability on the Newmarket Community Hospital site, therefore, the Trust asks patients to leave in good time for their appointment or procedure. Additionally, the Trust is working with its contractors to ensure that noise, or any other impact as a result of the construction phase is kept to a minimum.
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