Publish date: 30 July 2024

Significant construction milestone for new Berwick hospital

Berwick hospital construction site

A significant milestone will be reached in the construction of Berwick’s long-awaited new community hospital this week.

The first components, which have been built off-site, will be transported from Merit’s factory in Cramlington, supported by a police escort, to the hospital site in Berwick.

Merit, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s construction partner, has been building these components since January last year.

In total 712 pre-assembled modules (PAMs), 52 fully fitted bathrooms PODs and 17 roof PODs will be transported from Cramlington to north Northumberland over the course of the next five to six months and will be installed on the roof and within the hospital’s two-storey steel frame.

The PAMs will be installed within ceiling voids and house the hospital services, including plumbing, lighting, heating and ventilation. The roof PODs, which will sit on top of the building, contain the equipment needed to distribute services throughout the hospital.

On Tuesday July 30, at around 8.00am, two roof PODs will be lifted by crane onto two large lorries to make the 60-mile journey to Berwick.

It is expected that the journey along Fisher Lane, Cramlington, up the A1 and along the A1167 into Berwick will take around an hour and a half. On Wednesday July 31, the PODs will then be lifted by crane onto the top of the hospital building, their permanent home.

A further six PODs will be delivered to the site between Wednesday and Friday this week.

Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said: “To reach such a key milestone in this extremely important project for the trust, patients and staff, is very exciting and an achievement for all involved.

“A huge amount of detailed planning has gone into the transportation of these modules, and I know that Merit will do everything to minimise any disruption and ensure that everything is done in a safe manner. Navigating the narrow residential streets near the hospital site is something that has been considered very carefully.

“This phase of the project really shines a light on the benefits of using what is referred to as ‘modern methods of construction’. The main advantages of this method include a very high-quality product and progress not being affected by weather. I am really looking forward to seeing things progress at pace on site from now.”

The local community has seen the hospital develop week by week and this exciting phase will begin the transformation of what is currently a steel frame into a modern and innovative building which will transform the way healthcare is delivered to those who live in Berwick and further afield.

Marion Dickson, executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Words cannot describe how momentous this part of the new Berwick hospital project is. To see the new hospital rise-up from our existing hospital site has been fascinating and very special. And now, to be able to witness the different components being put in place in such an extraordinary way is just fantastic.

“I am incredibly proud that Northumbria Healthcare were brave in opting for this innovative construction method and that we are leading the way regionally and nationally. The countdown is now on until the Summer next year and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved so far, once again, for their commitment, effort and contribution. Our local communities can be assured that we are continually looking to see what appropriate additional services we can bring to our wonderful new hospital. We must ensure any new services are sustainable and that they can be delivered safely. I can’t wait to see our hospital building transform over the next few weeks and months.”

Mark Brough, project manager at Merit, commented: We’re incredibly proud to have reached this significant milestone in the delivery of Berwick’s new Hospital. The offsite components of the facility will be delivered to site over the next five to six months and has been planned out with meticulous detail. Our priority is to ensure the seamless delivery of all components, whilst also minimising disruption to the local community where possible. I’m looking forward to seeing this project progress further, and once operational, this state-of-the-art hospital will benefit the wider community and beyond.”

Residents and stakeholders are invited to find out more about the progress of the construction of Berwick’s new community hospital and the patient services it will offer at a drop-in session being held between 11am and 4pm on Friday August 9 at the William Elder Building 56-58 Castlegate, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1JT.


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Media contact

Cara Charlton, head of PR

cara.charlton@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk or 07812 389 963