'Lego' pod marks hospital build milestone

Construction of Berwick's new hospital has reached a milestone with the arrival of the first pod as part of its "innovative" design.

The £35m community facility will replace the existing Berwick Infirmary, parts of which date back to the Victorian era.

Building involves the installation of "Lego-like" pods built off-site which are then installed onto the on-site metal frame.

Those behind the project say the way the hospital is being built will future-proof the building by allowing for easy replacements and upgrades.

Damon Kent, Northumbria Healthcare’s director of estates, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the arrival of the the first pod marked a "real milestone", and more would be arriving on a daily basis.

He described the project as "very innovative in healthcare".

"It is being built off-site primarily, so what you see on the ground is the steel frame and all the module units large, Lego-like units that make up the hospital are constructed in Cramlington," he added.

"It means there is consistent construction, so when it comes to a time in the future to replace or upgrade a module, it is relatively easy to do that.

"It has only been done a handful of times and this is a UK first for offsite construction in healthcare - the world is watching."

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