Exciting times for Walton Hospital as demolition work ends

Physiotherapist Dominic Gage in one of the new treatment rooms at Walton Hospital. Picture by Sarah Washbourn.

The disused western wing of Walton Hospital has been erased from the landscape and up to 90 homes will be built on the land once a developer is found.

Amid the demolition of the former building, multi-million pound redevelopment work has taken place on the rest of the Walton Hospital site.

Ian Murray, head of estates at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Walton Hospital, said: “These are very exciting times for us.

Ian Murray, capital and estates programme manager, shows the Derbyshire Times around Walton Hospital. Picture by Sarah Washbourn.

“You may have seen the demolition work on the old building going on recently, but it’s definitely business as usual at the hospital with lots going on.”

A total of 170 extra parking spaces will soon be available and a new outpatient block named in memory of Derbyshire nurse Peter McCarthy has opened.

Mr McCarthy, a community diabetes specialist nurse, died aged 51 in 2014 after battling leukaemia.

His wife Jannine and children Ella, 11, and Will, seven, from Wirksworth, were guests of honour at a special ceremony to open the Peter McCarthy Suite, which includes occupational health and group therapy areas, nine clinical outpatient consultation rooms and a gym.

A total of 170 new car parking spaces will soon be available at Walton Hospital. Picture by Sarah Washbourn.

William Jones, the trust’s chief operating officer, said: “Everyone who knew Peter remembers how caring and supportive he was, both to his patients and to his colleagues. He was a gentleman with a gentle nature who is greatly missed. He cared passionately about his work as a nurse and his dedication shone through in the care and consideration he gave to his patients.”

The home of the former Sunshine Nursery – which controversially shut after 25 years last summer – is now being used by the Live Life Better team to help people stop smoking, lose weight and improve their wellbeing.

At a heated meeting with parents when the closure plans were announced, Mr Jones said the nursery made a loss of £150,000 in 2014.

“Clearly this cannot be sustained and as an NHS organisation we need to focus our needs on providing high-quality health services for residents,” he added.