FAST progress is being made on the £1.76m refurbishment of Felixstowe General Hospital.Health bosses says the work to turn the unit into a modern centre of healthcare provision is well on track - and should be finished by early next year.

FAST progress is being made on the £1.76m refurbishment of Felixstowe General Hospital.

Health bosses says the work to turn the unit into a modern centre of healthcare provision is well on track - and should be finished by early next year.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Primary Care Trust said: “Much of the structural work is complete including the addition of extensions to the old building and changes to the second storey.

“The lift shaft has been built, but putting in the elevator itself - which will open up the second floor for use - is scheduled to be one of the last jobs for the builders.”

Alistair McWhirter, the new chairman of the PCT, will visit the building in Constable Road next week to see the progress and meet the builders, R G Carter, accompanied by members of the League of Friends of Felixstowe Hospital.

When work is complete, the facilities at the hospital will include many extra clinics - cutting down the need for Felixstowe people to travel to Ipswich Hospital.

There will be an upgraded x-ray unit to provide digital processing and faster diagnostic responses, a minor injuries unit open until 10pm daily, 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, and there will be 16 inpatient beds - five single rooms, one twin, one room with four beds and one with five beds - to provide treatment to stop the need for admissions for some patients at Ipswich.

Extra facilities also include a new reception, dining area and single storey dayroom, plus a 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.

At the moment the General's facilities are housed in the former Bartlet Hospital on Bath Hill. When the refurbishment is complete, the services will move back to the General and the Bartlet will be sold off, most likely to be converted to luxury apartments.

A video virtual walkthrough of the refurbished Felixstowe General can be seen at www.suffolkpct.nhs.uk/felixstowehospital.wmv

Are you looking forward to the new Felixstowe General? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk