Work begins on 'vital' hospital staff accomodation
BBCWork has begun on new accommodation for staff and students at a hospital.
North Devon District Hospitalin Barnstaple has received £22.7m from the New Hospital Programme to create modern, on‑site living facilities to help retain the hospital's workforce.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation said the Taw View residences would provide 120 en-suite bedrooms, including four fully accessible family apartments and six single fully accessible rooms with shared kitchen, living and dining spaces.
Chris Tidman, Royal Devon deputy chief executive officer, said it would be "vital for attracting healthcare professionals to our hospital".
'Practical investment'
The trust said the apartments were being built as part of Our Future Hospital (OFH), its long-term programme to build "a better, more resilient hospital for northern Devon and ensure services meet the needs of local people for years to come".
It said the accommodation would be used by clinical students, visiting and relocating clinicians, and on-call medical staff critical to the delivery of patient services at the hospital.
Prof David Sanders, OFH clinical lead, said the start of construction work was "an important moment to celebrate" but added there was more to do.
"The OFH team continues to work hard to secure the further funding needed to deliver vital improvements across the hospital site," he said.
He added: "Taw View marks the first phase of the OFH programme. Not only will it deliver much needed short-term accommodation for our clinical colleagues, it paves the way for relocating the staff car park and unlocking the site for the major, much needed, clinical build that will follow.
"The next phase will deliver new, fit for purpose operating theatres, intensive care unit, expanded diagnostic facilities and enhanced women's and children's services."
The trust said solar panels would cover most of the roof, adding it would ensure a biodiversity net gain of at least 10% was reached through on and off-site habitat provision.
Ian Roome, MP for North Devon, said it was a "practical investment".
"In Parliament, I will continue pressing the government to bring forward the remaining funding needed for the next stages of the project," he said.
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