- £10m War Memorial Hospital rebuild has served at least 52,521 appointments since its completion in Spring 2023
- Services delivered include specialist dentistry, X-ray, Physiotherapy, Audiology, MSK, Community Maternity and GP services
- Case study detailing the rebuild published by NHSPS
Patients and NHS colleagues have given their seal of approval a year after the official reopening of Hythe & Dibden War Memorial Hospital, which was redeveloped under the direction of NHS Property Services to help provide the local community with improved access to healthcare facilities.
The new site includes a fantastic new diagnostics suite with X-ray and ultrasound services offered to patients and was formally opened at a community celebration attended by dozens of local residents.
A plaque was also presented during the ceremony to John Carr - Chair of the hospital’s League of Friends - naming the new imaging suite after him following his many years of support.
And one year later, the local community shared their thoughts alongside feedback from the NHS colleagues based at the hospital.
Scott, a paramedic who works at Hythe hospital said: “I love working here. I love coming to work and being able to care for the patients.”
Dr. Nicky Sheppard, who works at the centre said: “It has revolutionised my working day. I was able to visit two palliative patients yesterday afternoon and spend time with them and their families explaining what happens now and offering them support. I can’t remember the last time I had the time available to do that in the manner I can now.”
A patient who recently visited the medical centre said: “Just wanted to say a big thank you to Forestside Medical Centre and Hythe Urgent Care Centre. I was dealt with by a very friendly and efficient receptionist at the surgery who gave me an appointment at Hythe Hospital. I was seen before my appointment by a practitioner and picked up a prescription from the pharmacy. What an excellent service!”
Another patient added: “I went to the new urgent care centre in Hythe hospital today. The staff are lovely, it’s very nice in there and I was seen very quickly.”
Susan Swaffer, Head of Relationship Management (South), said: “After working collaboratively with our NHS partners to deliver this fantastic project, we are genuinely thrilled to be able to celebrate with them just over one year on from the official opening of the new Hythe and Dibden War Memorial Hospital, and to share the case study which shares in more detail how the project was delivered.
“We are proud to have provided a welcoming, inclusive, state of the art facility and it is great to hear such positive feedback from the patients, service users and our NHS colleagues which confirms that the new hospital is helping to create a positive experience for everyone who gives and receives care here.”
The redevelopment was delivered to the highest quality standards, designed to provide the local community with a place that provides efficient, flexible, modern accommodation which will house existing services, as well as opening up new opportunities, increasing integration and co-ordination of care and reducing pressure on nearby acute centres both now and in the years to come.
Janine Pickering Programme Manager for Healthcare and Estates Transformation at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight said: “It is lovely to hear such great feedback from both the patients and staff working at the hospital and we hope this continues as we move forward.”
The project involved collaboration across a number of organisations, including NHS Property Services, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, Kier, GBP consultants and the many NHS providers who will use the building, including the local Primary Care Network, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
Find the Hythe & Dibden Case Study available here NHS Property Services | Hythe and Dibden War Memorial Hospital Redevelopment