Milestone in building of hospital
Lichfield's new £17 million hospital will be handed over to health chiefs tomorrow. Staff will then tour the building, which is due to open next year.
The keys to the Samuel Johnson Hospital will be given to staff from South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust by building contractors Laing O'Rourke.
Sandra Walker, of South Staffordshire PCT, said: "Lichfield's new, purpose-built community hospital will provide a variety of important services for the community under one roof."
The hospital is set to open in January with services gradually phased on to the site.Once it is open, Lichfield's Victoria and Burntwood's Hammerwich Hospitals will be closed in a cost-cutting move.
The new facility will have 52 inpatient beds - with one male and one female ward, a rehabilitation unit, outpatient physiotherapy provision for adults and children, an X-ray and ultrasound department and a 24-hour minor injury unit integrated with an out-of-hours service.
A widely fought for maternity unit will also be included, to replace popular facilities at the Victoria, with six beds plus delivery rooms and antenatal clinic.
Other features of the hospital will be a renal dialysis unit, a pharmacy and discharge liaison suite.