COMPLETELY gutted and stripped back to the bare plasterwork, Felixstowe General is getting a total makeover today.Everywhere you go in the hospital there are doors bricked up, walls knocked down, new wiring dangling overhead, and new building work taking place.

COMPLETELY gutted and stripped back to the bare plasterwork, Felixstowe General is getting a total makeover today.

Everywhere you go in the hospital there are doors bricked up, walls knocked down, new wiring dangling overhead, and new building work taking place.

When it re-opens its doors next year it will look very different - transformed into a modern community health care centre.

Visiting yesterday to see how the £1.76m refurbishment project is going, Suffolk Primary Care Trust chairman Alastair McWhirter said: “There is a huge amount of structural work being done and it appears to be progressing very well.

“We are aiming here to deliver a really modern health care facility - it clearly wasn't that before.

“We want it to meet the needs of the people of Felixstowe and we want to provide facilities that are local.”

Mr McWhirter said the aim was to provide similar modern health facilities in other communities, though specialised treatments would still take place at Ipswich or even further afield.

Health centres like Felixstowe General would be able to provide a wide variety of treatment, including minor operations, but so would GPs in future.

Former GP Alan Wimhurst, president of the League of Friends of Felixstowe Hospital, said: “It is really good to see the work taking place and I am interested to know if it will be possible to extend the building again in future, because I am sure we will need more accommodation again eventually.

Builders R G Carter are making good progress on extensions to the old building and changes to the second storey, as well as preparing the ground floor for the new wards.

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The new centre will include many extra clinics, upgraded x-ray unit to provide digital processing and faster diagnostic responses, a minor injuries unit, and a minor operations suite.

A local healthcare team, made up of district nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, will work alongside the new day and treatment services.

There will be 16 inpatient beds to provide treatment to stop the need for admissions for some patients at Ipswich and occasional convalescent care for particular needs.

Extra facilities also include a new reception, dining area and single storey dayroom, plus specially designed children's centre, the décor and furnishing of which will be paid for through the funds donated by the community through the Evening Star's Helping the Children appeal.