Colchester Hospital’s new main entrance, retail area and reception will open today, Thursday, 28 November.
After nearly six months of construction the multi-million pound redevelopment at the front of the hospital is almost complete and WH Smith, Costa, M&S will open their doors to customers for the first time at 9am.
The League of Friends team are also set to open their new shop next week, on Wednesday 4 December.
Nick Hulme, Chief Executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), which runs Colchester Hospital, said: “Whether you’re coming to Colchester Hospital now or in the future to see a loved one, or if you’re coming here to receive care, your experience with us will be a better one.
“Now we have a brighter, welcoming and spacious main entrance that we hope will be more calming and reassuring for patients and visitors when they first arrive at the hospital.
“We have improved our facilities too – there’s better access for wheelchair users, there’s more seating and more toilets, as well as the additional shops and cafes.”
While WH Smith, Costa and M&S join the League of Friends in the new main entrance, hot meals, snacks and drinks are still on offer in Senses restaurant on the first floor of the main hospital. The Stock Shop can also be found in the Outpatients corridor.
Paul Fenton, Director of Estates and Facilities at ESNEFT, said: “We know the past few months have been disruptive at times, and we really do appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we’ve worked to improve Colchester Hospital for our patients and the community we serve.
“What we would like people to know is that this redevelopment has come at no cost to the taxpayer. This is because of the agreement we have in place with the retailers. It is a self-financing arrangement, which means the rents paid to us by WH Smith, Costa, M&S and The Stock Shop will cover the cost of the building work.”
There are still some external works to do, but it is hoped that will be finished before Christmas, with landscaping and improvements to the lake being carried out early next year.
Exciting times for Colchester Hospital
Improving and extending the main entrance has been just one of a number of big building projects happening at Colchester Hospital this year.
- We recently opened our new cancer centre – The Collingwood Centre, bringing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and haematology under one roof for the first time at Colchester Hospital
- Building work has begun on a new Aseptic Unit, next to the Pharmacy building. This will allow us to make bespoke medical treatments, such as chemotherapy drugs, on the Turner Road site.
- Work begins on our new IRCA (Interventional Radiography and Cardiac Angiography) unit in December.
- The new Urgent Treatment Centre opened also opened in October, transforming the way patients are treated for minor illnesses and injuries.
Looking at our other sites, Ipswich Hospital recently gained planning permission for its Urgent Treatment Centre and it is hoped that will open in 2021. That work will also include a redevelopment of the hospital’s A&E department.
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