noviniti is delighted to announce the commencement of our latest development, a new Main Entrance Facility and Expansion to the Emergency Department at Colchester Hospital.

The foundations are now being laid as part of the project to extend and transform the front of the building. This follows an extensive programme of demolition and preparatory work on the Turner Road site. Construction of the extension to the main building and Urgent Treatment Centre, including the refurbishment of the main entrance, will all take place between now and November.

Nick Hulme, Chief Executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), which runs Colchester Hospital said:
“We’re committed to creating high-quality facilities the community can be proud of at Colchester Hospital.”

“The old main entrance was cramped and wasn’t particularly welcoming, but this work will change all of that. The new main entrance will provide a modern, reassuring and calming environment for our patients, visitors and staff.

“There will also be significant service improvements for patients attending the new Urgent Treatment Centre, which will be part of the existing Emergency Department.

“This is a really exciting milestone as part of our building for better care mission and we’ll really start to see our new-look building taking shape now.”

The extension to the building, which is being funded by working with commercial partner noviniti Limited, will be in two blocks. The first is single-storey and provides additional space for the Emergency Department, which will also include an Urgent Treatment Centre set to open in October.

The second is a larger, two-storey block which forms the new entrance. This will provide non-clinical hospital space on the first floor, with new visitor facilities, shops and cafes on the ground floor. These include M&S Simply Food, WH Smith, Costa Coffee and the League of Friends.

The development has been fully funded by noviniti Ltd in partnership with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust and WH Smith.