Nearly 200 people view new hospital

I was one of 192 members of the public who attended the first of two open days held today and on Saturday to allow people to see the brand new £90 million West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven which will open its' doors to patients on Monday 5 October 2015.
    
The day was attended by extremely helpful members of staff who were on hand to answer questions about their new departments. I would like to thank all those who showed me around.

This will be the case again on Saturday when the hospital will be open to the public as follows:            

• Saturday 26 September 2015 – 10.00am-1.00pm (last entry 12.30pm)

The open days allow members of the public the chance to see what the new single en-suite patient rooms look like as well as some departments such as the new Accident and Emergency department, Outpatients and Maternity.

The new facilities look absolutely fantastic and it was a very helpful exercise.
    
If you missed today and would like to go round the new WCH facilities on Saturday there is no need to book a place. Entry will be through the existing main hospital entrance on level 3 where the new hospital can be accessed next to Fairfield ward. Please note there will no alternative access points to the new hospital. Refreshments will be for sale during the open days in the new restaurant.

Of course, it is important not just that we have good hospital facilities, which is really welcome, but that there are services in the hospital making use of those facilities. There was a demonstration outside the hospital to coincide with the open day, with campaigners calling for emergency surgery to be brought back to the Whitehaven hospital and for 24-hour consultant-led maternity services to remain. This was also well supported.

#SupportOption1 if you want to keep consultant-led maternity at WCH (and at FGH in Barrow.)