£1.6m project starts to improve Beccles hospital
Beccles War Memorial Hospital. - Credit: Nick Butcher
Work is under way on a £1.6m revamp of Beccles Hospital as part of a plan to transform community-based services.
NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is working with NHS Property Services to carry out the major project which is designed to improve the quality of care that patients receive.
The project will see the Minsmere Ward re-configured and the number of single rooms increased from four to eight. Three bed bays will be refurbished and the existing conservatory demolished and replaced with a modern, bright day room, thanks to the generosity of the hospital’s League of Friends.
Dedicated en-suite bathroom facilities will also be installed in each single room and bed bay and a fully equipped gym and therapy area will be created to support patients receiving rehabilitation.
The work is being carried out by Lowestoft-based contractor P J Spillings and during the construction, the inpatient beds have temporarily relocated to the Laurel Ward at Carlton Court in Lowestoft.
CCG chief executive Andy Evans said: “We are delighted that work is progressing on this major transformation, which will significantly improve the experience our patients have when receiving care at Beccles.
“The ward refurbishment, new side rooms and en-suite facilities will ensure every patient can enjoy the highest levels of privacy and dignity, while additional therapy areas will help patients recover so that they can return home more quickly.
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“We look forward to opening the new-look hospital so that patients from across Great Yarmouth and Waveney can benefit from what will be fantastic new facilities.”
Sue Jenkins, who is a matron at the hospital, said: “We are really excited that building work has now begun.
“The project promises to transform and update the building, which will in turn improve the care we are able to deliver and give our patients the best possible experience while in hospital.”
Principal construction manager for NHS Property Services Sean Perry added: “The transformation of Minsmere Ward is the latest in a series of improvements to have benefitted the Beccles Hospital campus in recent years through a continuing modernisation programme.
“We are very proud to be delivering it for NHS patients and staff.”
