Services phased in at hospital

The first patients will be seen at Lichfield's new £17m community hospital on Monday.

A phased transfer of services will see the renal department first to operate at the Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, off Trent Valley Road.

South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is responsible for the hospital, has announced that staff and services at the area's existing Victoria and Hammerwich Hospitals are now in the process of being phased into the new hospital.

The renal department will be the first to be providing a normal service from 8am next Monday.

On Tuesday normal clinics at the Outpatient Department begin, and the Minor Injuries will provide a limited service from 7.30am - although patients can still attend the Victoria Hospital until 4.30pm. A full minor injuries service will then be available at the Samuel Johnson Hospital from 5pm.

X-Ray will be open at both Victoria Hospital and Samuel Johnson Hospital from 9am to 5pm on Tuesday.

All X-Ray services will then take place at the Samuel Johnson from next Wednesday.

Wards at both Hammerwich and Victoria Hospital will also be moving next Tuesday, with visiting from 6.30pm at the new hospital.

A normal Rehabilitation service will also start at the new hospital on Tuesday, and the Physiotherapy outpatients service begins at 1pm.

On Wednesday Maternity services kick in - although people are advised to ring the Victoria Hospital before 12noon.