Hospital wall repair works start in Lowestoft

The James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is advising the public that the work will result in minor disruption to the car park- and access to spaces.

A spokesman from the trust said: 'We appreciate that this is a very busy area and some parking spaces have been lost to the construction work.

'Ongoing arrangements are being made to revise and return some of the spaces back to use.

'Please be assured that we will do all we can to ensure the work is completed and the roadway handed back at the earliest opportunity.'

The repairs follow on from work completed last month to install fencing on the site, which is more than 150 years old, following a minor health and safety issue.

A small piece of guttering came off the building, which did not affect any of the hospital services.

As a result, fencing to protect the walkways was installed around the exterior of the building, while further works were undertaken.

Health chiefs confirmed plans to close Lowestoft Hospital in October 2013, as the governing body of clinical commissioning group, HealthEast, approved a major overhaul of health services in the town.

One recommendation was to close the hospital.

Discussing the future uses of the Lowestoft Hospital site earlier this year, at a James Paget University Hospital board meeting on January 30, Mark Flynn – director of finance – said that 'the future use of the site' had been discussed with partners, and the public would be updated soon.

Speaking last month, a spokesman for the James Paget said: 'We are aware that passers-by may be concerned that a decision has been made regarding the future of the site, but it is business as usual within the hospital.

'We continue to work with our partners to ensure the future benefit of the site for local people and continue to honour our commitments given through that consultation exercise. 'Our priority has to be the safety of our patients and any visitors to the site.'