Legacy will fund £408,000 hospital refurb

Health bosses say work to modernise the outpatients area – including a new entrance and reception – started this week.

It will cost £408,000, with £200,000 being donated by the Blue Skies Hospitals Fund. It was estimated last year it would cost £450,000.

The hospital, which is being forced to find £83m of savings over the next five years, said the rest will come from its capital investment programme, and said a more efficient check-in facility will save money in the long run.

Wendy Swift, interim chief executive at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The current outpatients area is in need of modernisation, and we are confident the new development will make it a far better place for our patients.

“Staff have been involved in the design process, and everything has been done with the patient in mind.”

All areas being renovated will remain open during the works, which will see smaller reception desks for outpatients replaced by one centralised area.

Improved toilets and a comfortable seating area are also planned.

Doug Garrett, chairman of Blue skies’ Charitable Funds Committee, said: “Blue Skies has been able to make this large contribution to the outpatients development thanks to an extremely generous legacy left to the charity.

“This scheme just proves how important the charity is to the trust’s work, and how all donations from Blue Skies are used purely to benefit patients and to make their visit as stress-free as possible.”