12:47pm Friday 30th July 2010
By Claire Marshall
A BRAND new community hospital for the Berkeley Vale took a step closer to fruition at a sod-cutting ceremony today.
The first sod was cut – or rather the gravel-filled ground was broken into – by the chief executive of NHS Gloucestershire Jan Stubbings and Neil Carmichael MP earlier this morning.
It marked the beginning of building work for the facility that will replace Berkeley Hospital.
It is being built on the Littlecombe development, in Dursley, and when complete will include 20 inpatient beds, community therapy services, outpatient clinics, a minor injuries unit and a range of diagnostic services such as X-ray and scope for mobile services such as an MRI scanner.
GP Martin Freeman, from the Orchard Medical Centre in Cam, said he was really excited about the new building.
"This is what we wanted passionately, us doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals have been pushing for this and I am delighted to finally see it underway."
Mr Carmichael, said he was pleased to see another part of the Littlecombe development getting underway and creating more jobs.
"This whole site is not just about the hospital or houses it is going to be a place for new jobs and we should welcome that," he said.
"We in the Government are absolutely determined to ensure hospital and NHS provisions are brought closer to the people so they can get immediate access to care."
Chairwoman of the Berkeley Hospital League of Friends, Diane Bainbridge, said they still had some reservations about the project.
"Our loyalty will always be with Berkeley hospital because it has offered excellent care over the years, but since this was a done deal we had to accept it.
"It is a fantastic idea to have these services closer to Gloucester but we want to be sure that the consultants from Gloucester will travel here as they did in Berkeley."
The contractors building the hospital, Seddon Construction, have an office in Wotton-under-Edge and have hired many local workers.
Stuart Seddon, who is the fourth generation in the family business, said: "This project is delivered from our office in Wotton-under-Edge, supporting jobs and the local economy.
"It’s an important development for the region and one we are delighted to be playing a significant part in."
It is hoped the hospital doors will open in late 2011 or early 2012.
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