Steve Brine met with RHCH Chief Executive Mary Edwards following the public meeting he held back in March, to discuss future plans and to look at the transformed frontage of our hospital.
Top of the agenda was the consultation phase in respect of the new Critical Treatment Centre. A formal consultation is likely to go ahead this Summer, with a hoped for start date of end of May.
Steve said: "What the Trust have done to the front of the RHCH is truly transformational; it looks terrific and is one of those things you cannot believe we didn't do years ago.
"It's really opened it up to show the original Butterfield Wing in its' splendour and will make a huge difference. I loved seeing the original 'County Hospital' stone carving which had been covered up for all these years by a plastic NHS/RHCH sign and was grateful for the contractors and the architects for taking time to show me what they are doing here.
"The improved parking facilities at the front, especially for disabled drivers and community ambulances as well as patient transfer will be really welcomed by users of the hospital I know.
"Of course, any hospital is about what goes on inside and investment in the new outpatients departments for-instance, is part of that but this is a long overdue improvement to the fabric of our much-loved hospital in Winchester."
