Following the demolition of the original building, contractor, Speller Metcalfe, has started work to create a modern, purpose-built hospital for the community of Shipston and surrounding villages.

Recognising the rich history of the original building, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has secured as many historical artefacts as possible which will be incorporated into the new Ellen Badger Hospital.

All of the brickwork from the demolished building is also being used as materials for the new build, demonstrating the trust’s commitment to sustainability, which will be a key focus throughout this development.

Groundworks have now been completed to enable the building to start taking shape and over the coming months the local community will start to see the steelwork going up, with the work expected to be completed next summer.

Closer to the community

The new site is going to provide enhanced clinical spaces for hospital and community services, bringing more specialties and clinics closer to the local communities in and around Shipston.

All of the specialties that were previously run from the site will return and clinical and operational teams are continuing to identify other additional services.

The development will also include the infrastructure to bring mobile diagnostics to the site and the trust is liaising with partners who run services such as the breast scanner to understand what their future plans are.

And the trust is working closely with the Stour Health and Wellbeing Partnership to co-design a health and wellbeing hub – a community-led space that will offer a holistic range of activities to support the wellbeing of all age ranges.

In addition, the out-of-hospital teams will be part of the design work.

Dr Charles Ashton, chief medical officer at the trust, said: “It is fantastic to see work starting on site to develop a facility that will offer so many clinical services – making them more accessible for local people.

Happier, healthier lives

“There have been several factors that have resulted in changes to the design, plans, and timescales, but despite those external influences the trust has remained committed to investing in healthcare for Shipston and the local villages.

“As part of our trust strategy, we know that keeping people well in their community for as long as possible supports better long-term outcomes for patients.

“Therefore, the services provided at the new Ellen Badger Hospital will help us to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and help people to live longer lives, with fewer years of ill health.”

Bob Armstrong, chairman of the Stour Health and Wellbeing Partnership’s Trustee Board, added: “We have been working with the trust for some time on the design of the health and wellbeing hub in the new Ellen Badger Hospital.

“Over the last 12 months we have run a number of activities and these have given us a valuable insight into the potential health and wellbeing benefits for the Stour community from this type of facility.”

The scheme has been procured under the PAGABO Medium Works Framework.