Hopes rise for women and children's hospital

Plans for a "desperately needed" women and children's hospital for Cornwall have taken a significant step forward.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has confirmed it has got the funding to relocate the cardiac department and to start a major electrical infrastructure programme.

The new hospital cannot be built without these two projects being completed.

Steve Williamson, the trust's chief executive, said: "We are confident that Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust remains on course to deliver a new women and children's hospital for the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly."

The RCHT is waiting for the outcome of the national New Hospital Programme (NHP) review to see if it has secured funding to build the new hospital.

Roberta Fuller, women and children's hospital programme director, said: "We are delighted to have the go-ahead for these really important projects, as our new hospital cannot be built without their completion."

A total of £15.5m had been spent on the project, she said. This included spending on design and planning, demolition, car parking provision and creating a contractors' compound.

Mr Williamson added: "We are looking forward to the outcome of the NHP review, which should be very soon.

"Our scheme was already in an early NHP cohort because of the cramped conditions and poor state of the Princess Alexandra Wing, and it's widely recognised that our new hospital is desperately needed."

Debbie Gilbert of HealthWatch Cornwall, which gives people a voice in health and social care, said: "This is a long time overdue and until this work is done we cannot secure the unit.

"I am really hopeful that we won't be forgotten and we will secure this funding.

"The current facilities are very outdated and they need to be brought up to date to give babies and mothers their best start."

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