New Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

From Royal Cock-up To Royal Glory

The new Royal Liverpool hospital is the £335m replacement of the city’s present city centre hospital, which was itself only built between 1963-1965.

The financing for this one is a bit controversial – its part-funded by private money which the NHS have to pay back. With the health service in crisis, we could see this hospital becoming privately owned in future should the NHS default on it’s loans. This would obviously be very bad.

New features of the up-coming hospital include no wards, instead opting for individual rooms for patients to recuperate in. If you’ve ever shared a ward with other people you will know that its a bit of a lottery whether its going to be stressful or not – medical emergencies and visiting public don’t exactly help you get better. Another great thing will be the vast green space outside, which will aid in the recovery of patients by providing unbroken natural light because of minimal obstruction. Of course a sit outside in the lavender gardens will take the edge off being ill and lend a sense of calmness.

Due to open in summer 2017, it will also incorporate a brand new cancer treatment centre. This service has already moved from Clatterbridge hospital and into the current hospital, but the scope of treatments will be widened and new equipment will be available. This will allow for better care and treatment for cancer sufferers.

After the new hospital has been built, the old one will be demolished. The existing hospital was beset with problems from the start*, with problems regarding build quality, budget and fire safety laws which changed during it’s construction. This lead the hospital to lie empty until 1978 until its opening by Princess Alexandra under crown immunity, 15 years after the start of construction. Many people will be glad to see it go. It is generally thought to be an oppressive building. It does have the distinction of having the largest emergency department in the UK though.

The hospital is part of a greater regeneration of the Islington district of Liverpool of which there is only part left. The rest was wiped off the map when arterial roads into the city were widened, destroying close communities and the pride of the area. As a result the rest slid into being unkempt and the remaining traders on London Road saw decline in sales due to Islington’s now undesirable feel and the loss of former resident customers.

Now residential quarters are springing up for key hospital workers and medical students on routes close to the hospital, rejuvenating the area and providing a new community for Islington. The University of Liverpool has also built new life sciences research facilities close to the hospital, with links to major pharmaceuticals companies.

*Information source: Wikipedia – former hospital construction.