15 Jul 2005

The official ceremonies to mark the start of major hospital redevelopments in Newcastle took place on the 16th June 2005.  A "turf cutting" for the new wing of the Royal Victoria Infirmary was carried out by Mr Len Fenwick, Trust Chief Executive.  Then a similar ceremony was led by Mrs Hilary Parker, non-executive director of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS trust and chair of the Trust's Project Board for the works, on the Freeman Hospital site.

The Royal Victoria Infirmary ( RFI) is to undergo large-scale demolitions of almost all of the remaining Edwardian buildings and the rebuilding will include a new Accident & Emergency Department and major trauma centre with all the back-up services required, together with critical care.

In the new buildings on the Freeman Hospital site, patients from across the North East will benefit from state of the art facilities for cancer treatment and kidney care.

The new RVI facilities will also house the relocation of the Regional Neurosciences Centre from Newcastle General Hospital and a reprovision of specialist Children's Care. In particular, the development is planned to house one of two highly specialised units in Britain for the treatment of Severe Combined Immuno Deficiency Syndrome – a very rare disorder that means children have no natural immunity to disease. Only Newcaslte and Great Olmond Street Hospital in London have the facilities to treat this condition.  The North East specialist Infectious Diseases Unit will also be accommodated at the RVI.

The schemes will cost around £300 million to build.  The Renal Centre is expected to open in Spring 2008, with the cancer centre following in the summer of that year.  The RVI facilities will become available in four stages, starting in the spring of 2009 and with the third phase – a childrens wing – opening in 2010.  The project will add 99 beds to the 1,8980 already available, with the additional radiotherapy and dialysis capacity.  Critical care for both adults and children will also be boosted and there will be additional operating theatres.

Sir Miles Irving, Chairman of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust was delighted to see the building works underway. " The people of Newcastle and the North East face some of the worst health problems in the country with, for example ,high death rates from cancer and heart disease.  These new facilities will help our staff to provide the best possible care for patients, meeting the highest standards".

Interserve will deliver FM services estimated at £130 million in the new buildings created in the scheme over a period of 38 years. For more details click here.