Life has finally begun at the new Royal Liverpool Hospital.
Today marks the first day of a 24-day move from the current Royal Liverpool Hospital to the new site. The Trust are aiming to have staff, patients and services fully moved into the new hospital by October 21.
The move to the new hospital has been heavily delayed and hit by major issues - namely the collapse of construction giant Carillion. Now finally the city will have access to its new state-of-the-art site.
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Speaking on the first day of the move, James Sumner, chief executive of the Liverpool University Hospitals Trust, said: "Today is not just a really exciting day for our organisation, but for our whole city as we start the move to the new Royal Liverpool Hospital.
"This move supports our wider plans for transforming the way that we provide care at each of our sites - a really new era of healthcare.
"This is a phased move, it is going to take place across 24 days and throughout that period we will be moving all of the individual services across. Our A&E Department won't move until the very last day, so you will still be able to visit the old A&E department at the old Royal, right up until the last day of the move."
In addition to the move, there are plans to move five services between the Royal and Aintree University Hospital, also run by LUHFT, which are subject to public consultation, along with a significant investment programme at Aintree University Hospital to upgrade the facilities on this site too.
Construction teams will remain on site at the new Royal into 2023 to complete internal and external works, particularly the new podium main entrance drop-off, which will allow easier access for patients and visitors.
In addition, the final two of three link bridges will be installed to link the new Royal with Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, which aims to create swift access to specialist treatment for patients at both sites. The first link bridge was installed in June.
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