A facility to be proud of

Newark’s Boundary Road hospital opened in 1996, replacing the one on London Road.

Before it opened, promises were made by the health authorities that it would offer facilities and services of which the town could be proud.

The £10m hospital was originally run by Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust.

Its chairman, Lieutenant Colonel George Vere-Laurie, and chief executive, Mr David Brotherhood, fought long and hard to get the go-ahead for the building.

The town had needed a new hospital for years but was kept waiting while projects in Nottingham and Mansfield were paid for.

Things changed in 1993 after a rethink of the management of health services, which led to the trust being created.

It immediately promised that a new hospital would be built in Newark and set about drawing up a business plan.

The trust worked hard to keep costs low. A completely new hospital would have cost more than £20m, so it was decided to build on the site of Hawtonville Hospital and convert the old buildings.

All patient services were put in the new part with the old building used as the chapel, coffee lounge, offices, staff changing, medical records and the kitchen.

When it opened the then general manager, Mrs Barbara Dempster, said the new hospital would offer more services and facilities.

She said it would offer a comprehensive service and it would have to be a specialised treatment for them not to be able to help.

The health bosses were especially proud of their purpose-built casualty unit which they said would be open around the clock and cope with an expected 27,000 patients a year.

It was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester on October 24, 1996.

The hospital is now run by Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust which also manages King’s Mill Hospital.