£15 million Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital extension project is on schedule

Hundreds of construction jobs, with many going to local firms, have been created during the project.

The extension at Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital includes four new 'clean air' and larger than normal theatres, a high dependency unit and an admission on day of surgery unit.

A new dedicated bone cancer centre with inpatient and clinic facilities and a flexible multi-use ward is also being incorporated into the building next to the hospital's main entrance.

The new theatre development will link into the existing main theatre suite and will mean that a temporary, modular unit which had been provided the extra surgery facilities can be removed.

Trevor Chadd, project director for the hospital, said while construction should end in May it will be September, following a commissioning period, before patients will be treated at the complex.

Mr Chadd said progressing the development through the national, 'P21+ framework' had meant that process from design through to the build had been made simpler, quicker and best value.

"We can use repeat designs and have a much better buying power."

"What we have been able to achieve for £15.1 million is fantastic value for money for the hospital and its patients," he said.

Almost a third of the funding has gone on the top floor, which accommodates all the engineering for the 'clean air' system in the theatres.

"Air will be exchanged up to 500 times a minute which will help the hospital retain its outstanding infection control figures," Mr Chadd said.

The technology also means that the unit now also includes two special wards where any patient who does have an infection can be 'barrier' nursed.

He said a key to the design of the new building was the garden in the centre which meant the wards and theatres all had windows and natural light.

"Natural light is important, not only for out patients, but for our staff," he said. The gardens will be landscaped by an expert horticulturalist and with the help of the hospital's Leagues of Friends.

With 50 per cent of patients now having operations as day case surgery the hospital is ensuring that their experience during that surgery is the best it can be with the new facilities.

The day case unit includes consultation rooms, 16 individual bays in which patient will wait for surgery, easy access to theatres and a four-bed ward were patients can stay for up to 15 hours. There will also be an area in which people can recover in special, reclining chairs.

Construction company Keir says it is, weather permitting, on target to finish the work in May.

Rob Burgess, Keir project manager, said: "This is a regional flagship scheme for Keir and we are very pleased to be involved.

"At any one time we have 60 to 70 workers on site, with more than 60 per cent of these expected to be from a 30-mile radius of the hospital."