Construction work on Whitby Hospital set to start 23 March

Plans to redevelop Whitby Hospital were first explored by NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in 2014 as part of a wider ‘Fit 4 the Future’ vision to transform community services to deliver sustainable health and social care, for Whitby and the surrounding area.

NHS Property Services (NHSPS), the site owner and key delivery partner, worked closely with the CCG to bring the project to this stage. NHSPS will manage the delivery of the construction phase and will operate the facility once complete.

Dr George Campbell, local GP and CCG Governing Body member said: ‘It’s been a long and occasionally bumpy road to get to this point, but I’m thrilled that work to remodel the hospital is getting under way. The hospital is a big part of the fabric of the Whitby area and the support of the local community and wider stakeholders has been pivotal. The CCG has continued to work with residents and local clinicians on a preferred model for the site that ensures a fit-for-purpose facility which delivers the best value for money solution for the NHS and the people that use the services. I’d like to thank partners, staff, patients and the community for their contribution and patience over the years and we look forward to sharing exciting updates on construction progress.’

Amanda Bloor, Accountable Officer, North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups said: ‘I am really pleased that building work is due to start and would like to thank all partners for their collaboration on such a significant project.’

Peter Todd, Principal Construction Manager at NHSPS, said: ‘Our strategic teams have worked tirelessly to move us into the exciting delivery phase of the project. The completed facility will be a fantastic resource for the local people of Whitby and secure local service delivery for years to come. This will not be the first or the last. Whitby’s modernisation sits within a significant NHS investment programme of healthcare redevelopment works across England. NHSPS is delighted to be supporting investment specifically in primary and community estate infrastructure with a multi-million pound programme over the next five years.’

The new plans will include a monitored parking provision for patients and staff to ensure spaces are protected for their use. 

Funding for the scheme was approved in late 2019 with BAM appointed as the construction partner. Approval was given at the end of 2019 for work to officially start on 23 March 2020 with patient transfer and work completion expected by summer 2021.

BAM’s Project Manager Gerry McFarlane, who leads the build, said:

‘It is very good news that we can start work in earnest in this historic part of England. With more than 400 hospital and health schemes to our credit BAM has always been prominent in the health sector, but what we know is that every scheme is different, and there is nothing more complex to build than a hospital. These are special buildings and we will draw on all our skills and experience to create exactly what the NHS, its people and patients want and need for the future.’

Richard Webb, North Yorkshire County Council’s Corporate Director of Health and Adult Services, said: ‘We welcome this development, which is good news for Whitby, and we look forward to working with NHS colleagues in developing community services locally. It is also our intention to develop a new extra care housing scheme as part of our commitment to the town.’

Alongside the build, the transformation of community services will include embracing new technology to support providing care closer to people’s homes. It will also look to co-locate partner organisations on a health and social care campus to bring services to the community together in one location.

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust will continue to be the lead provider of services from the remodelled hospital which includes minor injuries (open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week), an inpatient ward for people who require rehabilitation for medical/surgical/complex long-term conditions, along with palliative and end-of-life care and physiotherapy and district nursing.

Michele Moran, Chief Executive of Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We are proud to be the lead tenant for this new chapter for Whitby Hospital. We are delighted to reach this important milestone for the project and look forward to providing services from a modern, fit-for-purpose building that will meet the needs of the local community.’

A great way to get involved with the project is to work with the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust charity, Health Stars which will be fundraising to add that ‘extra sparkle’ to the build. More information about its projects and ideas will be shared as the project develops.

You can fundraise through Health Stars at any point. You can decide where the funds that you raise are allocated to – for example if you chose to do a sponsored walk you can allocate the funds that you raise to the Whitby project and even do that for a particular item.

About our CCGs

NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is responsible for ‘buying’ health services for around 144,000 people living in Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby. In 2018-19, NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG spent approximately £194 million on healthcare and services in our area. You can find out more about us on our website.

NHS Harrogate and Rural District Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is responsible for ‘buying’ health services for around 162,000 people living in Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby. In 2018-19, NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG spent almost £238 million on healthcare and services in our area. You can find out more about us on our website.

NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is responsible for 'buying' health services for around 120,000 people living in Scarborough and parts of Ryedale. In 2018-19, NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG spent almost £200 million on healthcare and services in our area. There's more information in our Annual Report and Accounts. You can find out more about us on our website​.

Proposal to merge the three North Yorkshire CCGS

On March 31, 2020, the three North Yorkshire CCGs will be disestablished and will be replaced by a single NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

As a single organisation we will be able to:

• Eliminate unnecessary duplication and bureaucratic boundaries to work more efficiently together and with our partners.
• Ensure consistency of decision making for the people of North Yorkshire.
• Provide a more agile and responsive service which maintains a local focus but enables us to obtain better value for money by commissioning at scale.
• Reduce administrative costs to enable more investment in front line health services.
• Share good practice and adopt the best from each of the three existing CCGs.
• Speak as a unified commissioning voice for the benefit of our local population.
• Work more strategically on a larger footprint with our local and regional partners.

We have been led by a single Accountable Officer (Amanda Bloor) since December 2018 and now have a full leadership team in place operating across the three CCGs. One North Yorkshire clinical commissioning group is the natural next step to help us collectively achieve the benefits of a single, aligned, strategic organisation, consistent with the national aspirations for CCGs as described in the NHS Long Term Plan.

About BAM

BAM was recently named as the largest contractor by turnover in Yorkshire by the research firm, Glenigan. Its UK origins date back to 1874 and its work in Yorkshire began with the Terry’s factory in York in 1930. It has delivered over 400 healthcare schemes, mainly hospitals, in that time, and is regarded as a market leader in the health, education, office and leisure sectors. It is part of the international Royal BAM Group, known both for its collaborative approach and its technological innovation and modernity. In the UK it employs around 2,500 people and many thousands more in its supply chain.