Building work on new Cornish hospital unit starts

The new £9m unit (left) is due to open to patients in April 2025

Work to build a new outpatient department at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance is under way.

A ground breaking ceremony has been held to mark the start of a 14-month construction programme that will cost £9m.

The unit was due to be open to patients in April 2025, with technology that would allow face-to-face and virtual consultations that would cut the need for travel, bosses said.

Parts of the current outpatient building are about 100 years old and no longer considered fit for purpose.

The current outpatients' building has very narrow corridors

Sister Louise Richards has worked in the existing outpatients building for 18 years.

She said: "In our current department, we can't accept patients in outsized wheelchairs and we struggle with stretcher patients.

"In the new department, we'll be able to welcome everyone."

Paul Sylvester, chief medical officer at West Cornwall Hospital, said issues raised by the Care Quality Commission included leaking roofs, narrow corridors and a lack of soundproofing for consultation rooms.

He said: "Each waiting room has had to have a radio, so when someone goes into a consultation room you can't hear the conversation taking place.

"This new building has been a long time coming."

RCHT Chief Exec Steven Williamson (left) and Chief Medical Officer Paul Sylvester breaking ground

At a turf cutting ceremony, Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust Chief Executive Steven Williamson said there had been years of partnership work to make the project a reality.

He said: "The new building will give our teams an environment which will match the outstanding care they provide."

Parking at the site is restricted while the works take place with patients, and visitors are being asked to use two nearby car parks.

Its hoped the construction, being carried out by Kier, will be finished by March 2025.