£100,000 BOOST TO KICK-START CAMPUS PLAN
> CLAIRE HARRISON REPORTS:
AMBITIOUS plans to create a health and wellbeing campus at Nuneaton’s hospital are now officially back on track.
The proposal, which would see number of key organisations set-up home on the sprawling George Eliot Hospital site, has been given a welcome shot in the arm - to the tune of £100,000.
The cash will pave the way for the hospital to commission a masterplan for the site which will investigate issues such as traffic flow and options to improve health and care services on the site.
The cash has been given to the Eliot via the government’s One Public Estate programme as part of the Connecting Warwickshire Partnership Programme led by Warwickshire County Council.
While the cash is nowhere near enough to pay for the innovative plans to become a reality, the funding has kickstarted the project which had, back in December, hit major stumbling blocks .
It has been welcomed by Kath Kelly, the hospital ‘s chief executive, who said: “This is a long-term project and we are working with our local partners to make sure the campus vision fits with the wider plans for all of North Warwickshire’s health and social care services.
“We are also waiting to find out the government’s chosen option to take forward schemes such as this; however this funding is an important early step and shows that we remain committed to this project.”
It was in July last year when the news about the campus was first revealed and unconfirmed reports suggest that education opportunities, a health and well-being hub and even housing are being looked at.
What is known is that the hospital is based on a huge 34 acre site and the campus could help make the most of some of the unused land.
David Carter, Warwickshire County Council’s joint managing director, said: “As the county council, we are committed to ensuring the safety, health and independence of the people who live and work here.
“I am very pleased we are able to support this project which will bring together health and social care services and empower the community to be in control of their own wellbeing.”