Work will begin on Monday to redevelop staff residences at North Devon District Hospital.
This project has received £22.7m from the New Hospital Programme.
“This is an important step in the Our Future Hospital (OFH) Programme and marks a significant investment in the future of North Devon District Hospital,” said Chris Tidman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Royal Devon.
The North Devon University Healthcare Trust established a programme called Our Future Hospital, which is dedicated to modernising the hospital estate and delivering on the redevelopment.
Over the next three months, two existing residences will be demolished to make way for modern accommodation units for colleagues and students in North Devon.
The new residences will include 120 ensuite bedrooms, with four fully accessible family apartments, and six single fully accessible ensuite rooms. Each unit will feature a shared kitchen, living and dining space alongside amenity spaces.
Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health, said: “This redevelopment at North Devon District Hospital shows how government investment is delivering real improvements for NHS staff and patients.”
The project is included in Phase 1 of the Our Future Hospital plan, which also includes building a new administration facility.
Over £80m has been invested over the next two to three years to modernise the entire hospital estate.
Despite the Phase 1 developments beginning to take shape, there are still significant delays. Construction work for the major rebuild isn’t expected to start until 2035-2038.
The major rebuild will eventually include:
- A new single MRI suite at North Devon District Hospital
- New hybrid theatre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
- New surgical hub at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Heavitree)
- Creating a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) in Bideford and expanding the CDC at the Nightingale Hospital Exeter with three additional scanners
- Delivering enhanced Same-Day Emergency Care facilities at both Exeter and Barnstaple
- A new NIHR research hub in north Devon.
“This is a real, hard-won result for North Devon, and I’m pleased we have secured this funding after a sustained campaign by the community,” said Ian Roome, MP for North Devon. “This is only phase one of securing our hospital's future with the need for new surgical facilities, an upgraded Intensive Care Unit and modernised operating theatres. North Devon District Hospital staff go above and beyond every day: they deserve up-to-date accommodation and the very best facilities we can provide for patients.”