The construction of the new £15m Endoscopy Unit at the Cumberland Infirmary (CIC) is now complete, and will welcome its first patients later this month.
Clinicians, staff, and key partners had the opportunity to come and see the new unit before patients move in.
This new Endoscopy Unit will be able to treat more patients, helping to reduce our waiting lists and improve timely diagnosis, particularly for cancers. It includes five clinical rooms and an outpatient area, enabling more patients to receive endoscopy procedures locally.
Dr Adrian Clements, Executive Medical Director for NCIC, said: “It was great to see the finished unit today, it looks fantastic and everyone involved in making this happen should feel very proud. This modern new facility will make a huge difference to both our patients and our staff, and it is great to see the hard work of a number of people and organisations come together to create a unit that will support outstanding care.”
Dr Daya Karat, Consultant Surgeon at NCIC, said: “We will be working hard over the next couple of weeks to ensure everything is set up and ready for patients to start to use the unit. Our dedicated endoscopy staff are excited to start making use of the state-of-the-art facilities. This will also free up space within the main hospital for the expansion of other departments, further benefiting both staff and patients.”
Craig Farrow, Commercial Director at Ergéa UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be part of this project, which marks a significant milestone in our partnership with the Trust. Together, we have created a modern, state of the art clinical facility that will play a critical role in transforming the patient experience and support positive outcomes. We’re excited for the official opening and to witness first hand the positive impact this unit will have on the local community.”
Some key benefits of the new unit include:
Patients will be able to access endoscopy faster – more patients will receive their diagnostic procedure within six weeks of referral in line with national standardsRecently Endoscopy services at both CIC and West Cumberland Hospital achieved national JAG accreditation, reflecting the high standard of care patients receive in north Cumbria. JAG accreditation is a national process that provides independent and impartial recognition that a service demonstrates high quality and consistent care.
Ergéa UK, in collaboration with Actiform, utilised the latest Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to ensure the building meets high environmental standards and complies with national healthcare regulations.
Please click to watch a time lapse video showcasing the build from initial ground-breaking to its completion: https://vimeo.com/1090108873?share=copy
