New hospital awaits first patients

First departments to open at the new Pinderfields Hospital will be the children's centre, which has all outpatient services for children in one place, as well as the rehabilitation department for physiotherapy and occupational therapy, neurology outpatients, orthotics and clinical psychology.

The following week, the regional spinal injuries centre will open as part of a 300m hospital redevelopment project which is being paid for under the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

The new hospital is being financed by Consort Healthcare, and it will take Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 30 years to pay for it.

Trust chief executive Julia Squire said: "What we are providing for patients in the new Pinderfields Hospital is first class care and now in first class facilities. Patients can expect to receive their treatment in an environment designed around them and I know that our staff are excited about welcoming patients over the coming weeks.

"Our patients will not only benefit from state-of-the-art modern facilities but will have faster access to their care and treatment because the new building has been designed to accommodate the latest technology and innovations in healthcare."

Patients who have suffered a stroke or brain injury will be treated in the brand new stroke and neurology unit and neurology rehabilitation ward, from 22 June.

In July, patients will also start accessing services in a range of new outpatient areas including the fracture and orthopaedic clinic, oncology/haematology day unit, mammography, ear, nose and throat (ENT) and audiology, cardio respiratory investigations, ophthalmology, oral and facial, neurophysiology, pharmacy dispensing, blood tests and maternity outpatients.

The remaining services will open in a few month's time when the new Pontefract Hospital, which has also been rebuilt as part of the 300m project, will also be fully open.

Each of the outpatient services in the new Pinderfields Hospital will offer improved modern facilities including bigger, purpose-built consulting and treatment rooms, as well as the latest equipment and technology to support patient care and rehabilitation. Patients staying overnight will have access to more en suite accommodation and single rooms.

Mum Joanne Kendall, from Wakefield, regularly visits Pinderfields with her son Joshua Lindley, five, who has cerebral palsy quadriplegia and who will be able to attend the new children's centre from Monday.

Miss Kendall said yesterday: "The new hospital is fantastic and much needed. There's nothing wrong with the old one, as I think it's the people that make a hospital, but it's great to have brand new, fresh facilities on our doorstep."

Senior sister for child outpatients Ann Taylor said: "The current environment is outdated and it's fantastic to have our own dedicated area for our young patients and their families."

Alongside the hospital in Dewsbury, it is hoped the new Pontefract and Wakefield hospitals will help transform local patient care.

When the new hospitals are fully open, the new Pinderfields Hospital will provide comprehensive care for all patients, including the most seriously ill, while the new Pontefract Hospital focuses on patients who are less seriously in need.