Delays hit opening of new £30 million operating theatres at Cambridgeshire hospital
The opening of a £30 million hospital block at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon, has been delayed. Ventilation problems are behind the hold-up to to the new theatres ward, which was expected to open in summer 2024.
The new block of seven operating theatres between the main hospital site and the treatment centre will replace the old theatres inside the main hospital site, which are reaching the end of the time period for which they were expected to be used. It is not yet known when the new theatres will be available for patients.
Hannah Coffey, Chief Executive Officer for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, explained: "External building work to our new state-of-the-art Theatres Block was completed last year.
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"However, there has been a delay to the programme due to some additional work that is required on the ventilation. We are continuing to work with building contractors GRAHAM on a revised timeline."
CambridgeshireLive contacted GRAHAM regarding the new operating theatres. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment further.
Hinchingbrooke Hospital is set to be rebuilt, as parts of its roof and walls are made from Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). This material is far weaker than standard concrete, and is more likely to break.
Building is expected to start in 2027. Current plans state the new site will be in operation by 2030.
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