OUT with the old

WORK STARTS ON NEW HOSPITAL CENTRE AFTER UNSOUND BUILDING DEMOLISHED

- HELENA VESTY

CONSTRUCTION work has started on a new outpatients centre at a Greater Manchester hospital after one of its major buildings was deemed structurally unsound and was demolished.

Stepping Hill Hospital's Outpatients B building was forced to suddenly close last year as it was deemed structurally unsafe by inspectors. The hospital was left scrambling to rehome services that were being run in the building, and patients who would regularly use the busy unit.

The closure has led to a serious decline in the capacity for outpatients appointments, with the bosses of the Stockport hospital warning there will likely be more infrastructure problems for Stepping Hill because of its ageing buildings. Earlier this year, bulldozers moved in on Outpatients B - and now an 'ambitious' construction project is getting under way.