Go ahead for Cromer plans

The Trust Board of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust today unanimously approved plans to go ahead with the building of a new £12 million hospital in Cromer funded by the Sagle Bernstein legacy.

The Board considered the results of the public consultation regarding the future of Cromer and District Hospital. A total of 3,290 people (a 4.4% response rate) responded to the consultation and there was very clear support for the proposed day case model of care (78% in favour) and for building a new three-storey £12 million hospital on the current Mill Road site (87% in favour).

There were concerns about the proposed closure of Barclay ward with 29% in favour and 65% against. However, many of the people against the proposal viewed the beds as emergency care, community care or palliative care beds but not as an acute care facility. As result their comments will be passed to Norfolk PCT to consider as part of its intermediate care consultation

The hospital's 12-bed Barclay ward will now be scheduled for closure in July (consultation with individual staff members affected starts next week), and a detailed service planning and procurement process will start with the aim of having building work commence in November this year. The project would take around 18 months to complete.

The new hospital will be a centre for diagnostics, day case operations and treatment, out-patient care, dialysis, minor injuries and will not have any acute in-patient beds.

During the consultation concerns were voiced about people who might need a bed following a day case procedure that presented a complication. Strict pre-assessment for day case surgery and strict protocols will be put in place to ensure the chances of such events are minimised.

Regarding widespread worries about car parking, the trust has also entered into talks with Cromer football club with a view to also using their car parking facilities. Through the design process the trust will also consider the issue of the Dutch gable that people wished to see retained or reflected in the new build in some way.

For more information visit www.nnuh.nhs.uk/page/newcromer