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New community hospitals will “create a whole new patient experience”, Cumbria health bosses have said.
Award-winning healthcare architects Jonathan Bailey Associates have been commissioned to transform the cottage hospital model by coming up with an overall design brief for new hospitals in Brampton, Millom and Cockermouth.
They will offer the most up-to-date technology and bring together a variety of health and social care services including GP surgeries. Bosses want outline business cases for the projects to be completed before Christmas.
John Critchley, Cumbria Primary Care Trust resources director, said: “This is not just about the buildings, it is about making sure that the services work and that is being led by clinicians.
“It will ultimately create a whole new patient experience which everyone will welcome and bring pride back to Cumbria.”
Plans for Cockermouth include bringing together the community hospital and GP practices with diagnostic facilities.
Dr John Howarth, a Cockermouth GP helping NHS Cumbria to develop the plans, said: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to revitalise community hospitals. This will help us provide quality care for patients, closer to home.”
Copyright PA Business 2008
