Multi-million pound plans for St Catherine’s Hospital in Birkenhead move a step closer

Nov 19 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

MULTI-MILLION pound plans to redevelop St Catherine’s Hospital in Birkenhead have come a step closer after being approved by the region’s strategic health authority.

The £32m plans could see two GP practices from Tranmere moved to the site, along with enhanced facilities.

Wirral Primary Care Trust wants to transform the site – much of which dates back to the Victorian era – into a community hospital providing community, out patient and day care services all on one “integrated site”.

The redevelopment is expected to be funded by the PCT to the tune of £19.4m, with a further £13.3m to come from a “third party investor”.

Kathy Doran, chief executive of Wirral PCT, said: “This is really exciting news.

“We are delighted to have moved a step closer to securing state-of-the-art health services so that people in and around Birkenhead have even higher quality health services on their doorstep.

“Wirral PCT’s next step is to put detailed plans in place working with our partners, Norwest Holst and Prime UK.

“We hope to start building in summer 2009 – subject to final approval from the Strategic Health Authority.”

The report presented to the SHA said: “Most of the old buildings at St Catherine’s Hospital were constructed and completed during the 1860s and 80% of the buildings are pre-1948 which require substantial modernisation.

The proposal will provide a single building with extended hours of opening including evenings and Saturday mornings at the St Catherine’s Hospital site.