Work starts on £19m community hospital

Beverley Community Hospital, which cleared its final planning hurdle last month, will be built on land off Swinemoor Lane and is due to admit its first patients in March 2012.

Measures to safeguard great crested newts found on the site will begin this month.

Ivan Ellul, chief executive of NHS East Riding, said: "I am delighted that we can now get on with the task of building a much-needed, modern community hospital for the people of the East Riding. Securing approval at regional level for our full business case, and the necessary capital funding, was the last step in the process.

"We can now press ahead with our plans. Very soon people will start to see the construction take shape and the new hospital become a reality."

The hospital will have a 30-bed inpatient facility, outpatient facilities, a range of diagnostic services including X-ray and ultrasound, minor injuries and out-of-hours facilities, therapy services and neighbourhood care teams.

It will replace the 36 beds at Hornsea Cottage Hospital, Driffield's Alfred Bean Hospital, and Beverley Westwood Hospital.

The scheme had been opposed by Beverley Town Council, Beverley and District Civic Society, and scores of residents, who criticised its design, location and facilities.