Home / Health / Berwick Hospital Construction Resumes After Contractor Collapse
Berwick Hospital Construction Resumes After Contractor Collapse
27 Nov
Summary
- Construction has restarted at Berwick Community Hospital with a new interim contractor.
- The original contractor, Merit Construction, recently went into administration.
- The completion date for the hospital remains uncertain due to the disruption.
Construction crews have returned to the site of Berwick Community Hospital, marking a restart after the original contractor, Merit Construction, entered administration earlier this month. Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Opus Building Services as an interim contractor to ensure work progresses while a permanent replacement is sought.
Opus Building Services has successfully re-employed most of the former Merit construction team, providing some stability for the workforce. Despite this, the trust's head of healthcare facilities management acknowledges that the recent disruption makes it difficult to ascertain a precise completion date for the new hospital. Significant structural work, including floors, walls, and staircases, is complete, with ward areas nearing finalization.
The next critical phases of construction will focus on the theatre and endoscopy areas, alongside the installation of windows and roofing equipment. Trust officials understand the potential for further delays to cause concern but are committed to advancing the project as swiftly as possible, while also exploring which patient services can be introduced to Berwick.
