New facilities open at West Cumberland Hospital

The magnificent £90 new hospital buildings at West Cumberland Hospital (WCH) in Whitehaven are now open and have treated their first patients.
 
Some services have already now moved into the new hospital, whilst other wards and departments will transfer throughout this week
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The aim is to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum but the hospital have asked patients and visitors for their patience during the transfer period.

Patients and visitors will access the new hospital via the existing main entrance – follow the corridor round to the left, past the old Fairfield (children’s) ward – except for anyone attending A&E. The entrance to the new A&E department is at the rear of the hospital site.

Everyone coming to the hospital by vehicle is reminded that the ring road around the hospital site has reverted to one-way traffic, in a clockwise direction. One small section of the ring road is still two-way for emergency vehicles only – the section between the helipad and the new A&E department.

Les Morgan, director for redevelopment at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

“Staff have been working for months behind the scenes to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible for the transfer of services into the new West Cumberland Hospital, and I would like to thank them for all of their efforts. We would ask everyone for their patience as we move services across to the new build, and look forward to getting to work in this excellent new healthcare facility.”

Pharmacy, Endoscopy and Ambulatory Care (Nurse Practitioners) have moved into the new hospital over the weekend. A&E, Cumbria Health on Call (CHoC), the Emergency Admissions Unit (EAU), Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Radiology all move in today (Monday 5 October). Ward 2, the adult medical ward, will move on Tuesday 6 October. Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), Delivery, Maternity Ward and Paediatrics will move on Wednesday 7 October. Further moves, including Ward 1 – the adult surgical ward – Theatres, and the Day Case Unit will take place over the following weekend (9-12 October).

The Trust has produced a newspaper supplement and leaflet giving more information about services inside the new hospital, including handy floor plans. They can both be found around the hospital or on the Trust website at http://www.ncuh.nhs.uk/about-us/our-publications.