RESIDENTS in Tynedale are being given the chance to have their say on future health and social services care in a local town.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Northumberland County Council are planning an integrated system in Haltwhistle as part of a £200m, 10-year investment.
The scheme will mean Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital being replaced with a new purpose-built facility and providing extra care services in place of the former Greenholme residential care unit.
Beginning on June 23 at Haltwhistle Methodist Church Hall (10am-noon), there will be a series of drop-in sessions across Tynedale. Other sessions will be held in Bellingham, Hexham, Allendale and Haydon Bridge.
Hexham MP Guy Opperman welcomed the move and declared: “This will greatly improve services for people living in the Haltwhistle area. The community has called for a new hospital for some time and this is a positive step forward.
“I would encourage residents to get involved and attend the drop-in sessions to find out more and make their views known.”
Foundation Trust director Steve Russell and County Council associate director Jane Bowie are working together on the project.
They said: “The new hospital will give us first-rate facilities for us to deliver high-quality care, and the extra care flats will help us to provide support to enable people to live independently.”
The proposed 15-bed development will provide rehabilitation and minor injuries units and physiotherapy and occupational therapy facilities.
There will be 12 extra care flats with round-the-clock support for tenants.
