New hospital building's opening delayed

The new wards are intended to improve facilities for stroke and elderly patients

The opening of a new £40m hospital building has been put back due to "administrative delays".

Patients had been due to begin moving into wards at the West Cumberland Hospital, in Whitehaven, from next week.

The redevelopment includes facilities for paediatrics, elderly care and palliative care as well as a stroke and rehabilitation ward.

North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust, which runs the site, said there would be "no disruption to patients" as services would continue to be delivered from their existing facilities.

Completed 'on time'

Phase one of the project, which cost £90m, was completed in 2015 after much of the hospital was demolished.

The trust said the second phase had been completed "on time, within budget and with outstanding building quality" but that "the company appointed to provide the necessary building control certificate has experienced administrative delays".

The new building "will now open later than originally planned", it added, although no new date was given.

In a statement, it said: "Preparations for the trust's teams to begin to move into the hospital's new facilities are already in place.

"However, while we await the final certification, we remain focused on making sure there is a smooth and safe transition for patients and staff.

"While we are all naturally eager to move into the new facility, we are committed to following all necessary protocols to maintain patient and staff safety."