Green light for £93m Laing O'Rourke hospital

Laing O’Rourke has been given the go-ahead for a £93m North West hospital by health secretary Andrew Lansley.

Lansley has pledged £70m of Department of Health funding for the redevelopment of West Cumberland Hospital. The project has been on hold for the past few months, but during a tour of Cumbrian hospitals yesterday Lansley announced that the project could go ahead.

Lansley said: “I and my colleagues in Government have looked with great care at the case for finding support for the rebuilding of Cumberland Hospital. While other new hospital schemes are being considered in the context of the spending review, Cumberland will be treated on an exceptional basis, given its stage of development, evident priority and the relationship with local economic redevelopment through the energy coast programme.

“The government remains committed to consider all future hospital projects in the context of the spending review to ensure value for money and affordability of these schemes. Only priority projects will receive government support.”

The work will incolve a new accident and emergency unit, new wards and new car-parks.