Board selects preferred option for new Cromer Hospital

The Board of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust can report the selection of a preferred option for a new £15 million Cromer Hospital.

The proposed investment will enable development of a hospital offering excellent modern healthcare to the people of North Norfolk. It is essential that the redeveloped Cromer hospital offers flexible space to provide services in a way that achieves value for money.

The preferred option involves a new two-storey main hospital alongside the conversion of the current hospital’s ward block to provide permanent accommodation for the renal dialysis unit currently located on the hospital site. The conversion of the ward block also provides room for future expansion of renal dialysis.

New services to be provided at Cromer will include mammography scanning for breast cancer screening and DEXA scanning for osteoporosis. The new hospital’s Ophthalmology service will have a state-of-the-art eye operating theatre and the Minor Injuries Unit will have improved facilities. A surgical procedure room and recovery space will be provided in the new Out-patient clinic area and will enable minor surgery to be done at Cromer.

Chief executive Anna Dugdale said: “We are determined that the hospital will be rebuilt and we have developed an alternative scheme which will provide a good range of services to meet the needs of local people. We will be involving our members, patients and public in these plans over the coming weeks.”

The plans for the new Cromer Hospital were considered by the foundation trust’s Council of Governors on Thursday 24 Septemer. The current timescale for the new hospital is construction work expected to start next year and complete in 2012.

The project is funded by the Sagle Bernstein and Phyllis Cox legacies. Some services currently based at Cromer will need to be provided from Norwich. The services affected are endoscopy and some surgical procedures currently carried out at Cromer. All those staff affected will be offered redeployment.

Sagle Bernstein legacy  – In 2001, the trustees of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust received an £11.4 million legacy left to Cromer Hospital by the late Sagle Bernstein. Mrs Bernstein was a local resident and her sister had been a patient at Cromer Hospital. The value of the legacy, which is held on deposit, currently stands at £11.5 million.

Phyllis Cox legacy – In 2004, Phyllis Cox, of Bacton, also left a substantial legacy to Cromer Hospital after spending a week at Cromer Hospital back in the 1950s. The value of the Cox legacy stands at £1.3 million.