Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has acknowledged further delays to the completion of Berwick’s new £35m community hospital after detailed surveys identified the need for additional work to establish the next phase of the project.
The Trust said its new contractor, Robertson Construction, had carried out a number of in-depth surveys in recent months and now had a clearer understanding of the steps needed to progress the development.
However, it said the parties were still working through exactly what work would be required to complete the hospital, with the process taking longer than anticipated.
In a letter to stakeholders, the Trust said: “We are still working through exactly what needs to be done to progress the project.
This is taking a bit longer than any of us would like.
While some work is now expected to take place before Christmas, the bulk of the programme is anticipated to begin in the new year.
The Trust said it was continuing to work with Robertson Construction and other agencies involved in the scheme to finalise the programme and progress the development as quickly as possible.
Why was the project originally stalled?
The latest update marks another setback for a project that has faced a series of delays since planning permission was first granted six years ago.
Early stages of the development were affected by archaeological investigations and associated work on the site, before the scheme later encountered further disruption during construction.
The project was subsequently left stalled following the collapse into administration of its previous construction partner, Merit.
Robertson Construction was appointed in January to take over the project, initially carrying out detailed surveys of the site and work already completed before developing a programme for the remaining construction.
At the time of Robertson's appointment, the Trust said it was hoping the hospital could open by spring 2027.
In April, the Trust said Robertson was continuing to assess work already carried out on site and that any remedial work identified would help determine the next phase of the construction programme.
The Trust had hoped at that stage to provide further details by early June and hold a public drop-in session during the summer.
However, the latest update indicates that the programme is still being finalised.
What is next for the hospital project?
The Trust now hopes to hold a public information drop-in session within the next three months, where members of the public will be able to receive further details about the project and its anticipated delivery programme.
It is also continuing to explore what additional patient services could be provided from the new hospital and whether some services could potentially be introduced before the facility itself opens.
The £35m development is intended to replace the existing Berwick Infirmary with a new community hospital providing inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic services.
Previous plans for the facility have included services such as endoscopy, audiology, ophthalmology, gynaecology and colposcopy, alongside existing services.
In its latest letter, the Trust said it recognised the concerns and frustration surrounding the continued delays.
It added that, while the current situation was not what anyone had wanted, ensuring the new hospital could provide care in a safe, high-quality and welcoming environment remained central to the work now being undertaken.
The Trust said it would provide further updates as work to finalise the programme progresses.
The latest update has prompted further frustration among members of the Berwick community, with stakeholders calling for greater clarity on when the long-delayed hospital will finally open.
One community member, Caron Astley, said: “I think the people of Berwick have been remarkably patient. But we really need a date of when the place will open.”
Another community member questioned why further surveys and reviews were required following the collapse of the previous contractor, while others raised concerns about the potential cost and impact of additional remedial work.
Stakeholders are also reportedly calling for an urgent update on the future of the new hospital on September 1.
