West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) is pleased to confirm that it has selected Hardwick Manor as its preferred site for a new healthcare facility.
The Trust was recently confirmed as one of 40 across the country to receive funding for new build projects from the Government’s Health Infrastructure Programme.
Four potential sites were investigated and rated by technical experts including surveyors, planners and highways professionals. Views and feedback were also gathered from public, staff and patient representatives, such as Healthwatch Suffolk, Trust members who represent patients and staff, and the hospital union. Elements such as transport links and the impact on the local environment, as well as room for potential growth and affordability, were just some of the factors that were considered. It led to Hardwick Manor being proposed as the most suitable location.
WSFT’s chief executive Stephen Dunn said: “One of the benefits about this proposal is the possibility of keeping some of the current site based at Hardwick Lane including many of the most recent additions such as the education centre and eye care centre, allowing us to make the best use of public funds.
“The Trust is also incredibly fortunate to have partner organisations on our site such as St Nicholas Hospice and mental health provider Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. If we can be based at the site of Hardwick Manor, this will mean that close relationships with co-located services such as these can continue. We are keen to develop further integrated working with our health and care colleagues.
“The vision for the project is to ensure the way that health services are delivered is fit for our current and future needs.
“We will be providing ways for you to give your feedback on designs and services. We want to work with the people who this affects the most. We want to work together to make real change and devise what is needed.”
Hear more from Dr Dunn:
As a way of keeping members of the public and patients informed, the Trust has a dedicated mailing list. To sign up or to find out more about the project and how you can get involved, please visit our dedicated webpage at https://www.wsh.nhs.uk/new-healthcare-facility
For those wishing to discuss the announcement, an online meeting has been planned for Wednesday, 16 December, at 6pm. You can access the meeting by typing in the following URL https://www.wsh.nhs.uk/live-event
Alternatively, for those who do not have internet access, the Trust welcomes your feedback via the post at the following address:
Future System Programme
2nd Floor Quince House
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Hardwick Lane
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 2QZ
Further opportunities to be involved in designing the way services are delivered in the future will be available.