BUILDING work on a £4m plan to refurbish a district hospital into Primary Care Centre is to resume after construction was stopped last year due a hold-up in funding. 

On Sunday (November 3) it was confirmed that building work at Guisborough Hospital would now resume in early March, next year. 

The South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), responsible for funding medical services in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, had previously blamed its "financial position" and placement into special measures on the delay. 

At the time, the CCG said it was also "considering" the range of services it wished to deliver in the area surrounding the hospital. 

The Northern Echo:

Over summer, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke said he had written to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Minister for Hospitals Chris Skidmore about the delays. 

It was then confirmed that the money would be released to the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Today, Mr Clarke revealed he had now recieved confirmation from the CCG that the refurbishment works would now recommence with the new facilities at the site open to the public in February 2021. 

He said: “It’s great news that we’ll see the builders back on site from early in the spring, turning Guisborough Hospital into a great modern health facility.

"It’s really important to the town and I’m glad we have a firm timetable to look forward to.”

It is now expected that the former Priory Ward building will be redeveloped, with the current building stripped and rebuilt as a modern health care environment for nearby residents.

It is understood that existing community and outpatient clinics will continue to be provided in the new-look centre, with additional space set to be created so that additional services can be provided in the future.