LONG-AWAITED improvements to a community hospital are finally nearing completion and services for patients could resume next month.

Plans to modernise Guisborough Hospital were first unveiled back in 2016, but having got underway the £5.3m project stalled in the summer of 2018 due to financial constraints.

The timetable for completion suffered a further set-back due to the coronavirus outbreak and there was criticism levelled at NHS chiefs by Guisborough councillor Bill Clarke who described his frustration at “unacceptable” delays.

Work recommenced in December 2020 with the Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group, which is overseeing the plans, describing how “excellent progress” has been made since.

Craig Blair, its director of commissioning, said: “The redevelopment of Guisborough Hospital has been undertaken to expand the range of services available to those in the local area. 

“The project has invested in refurbishing the old site, fitting it with brand-new equipment and making it fit for the purpose of providing specialist outpatient care.  

“Working with a number of providers, a broad range of services including planned diagnostics, community mental health and dental services will be available, all from one location.  

“There has been excellent progress made on the site and we’re hoping to be delivering services as early as February.”

A spokeswoman for the CCG added: “The interior has been changed almost entirely, it is a quite an old building which was in a state of disrepair so has needed substantial works.”

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke previously described his “huge excitement” over the improvements for what he said was a much-loved community asset.

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