By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A new national rehabilitation centre being built on the Nottinghamshire – Leicestershire border for people who have suffered serious injuries must meet a £9 million shortfall in its funding.
But project managers behind the scheme have stressed it remains on track to open on time.
The national unit, which will be based on the same site as the Defence National Rehabilitation Centre, near East Leake, is due to open in November 2024.
The project was included in the Government’s New Hospital Programme in December 2020, helping to secure millions of pounds in funding.
It is one of two projects being co-ordinated by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH).
However, it has been hit with extra costs after a Government target for net-zero carbon increased its costs by more than £4 million.
An initial £70 million was allocated to the scheme with a further £11 million to come, leaving a £9 million gap in the overall £90 million cost.
Speaking at Nottinghamshire County Council’s policy committee meeting on Thursday (July 15), a project spokeswoman confirmed its budget shortfall.
Miriam Duffy, director of the project at NUH, said: “We have a remaining £9 million capital gap in a total budget of [almost] £90 million.
“Being part of the New Hospital Programme has helped to give reassurance around that, there is Government intent, and there are other areas we are looking at in terms of national funding.
“There are several different angles we’re trying to close that gap on.”
She added that extra fundraising will run to find the funding, which is expected to complete by the end of 2021.
The new unit will increase rehabilitation capacity from 114 to 750 patients.
However, once open it will see some Nottingham services transferred 16 miles away from the city.
Linden Lodge, a 25-bed unit currently based at Nottingham City Hospital, will close its doors as part of the scheme and be incorporated into the new centre.
Staff at the Nottingham site will be offered the opportunity to transfer and further recruitment plans will be implemented from next year.
The centre will provide treatment for people with major trauma as well as people with neurological conditions, with the latter being the focus at Linden Lodge.
But it will also begin taking referrals on a national basis rather than treating solely Nottinghamshire patients.
Thursday’s meeting heard concerns over transport, with councillors in Ashfield raising concern over referrals from King’s Mill Hospital.
However, Ms Duffy confirmed that an integrated transport plan will be developed and patients will be transported from hospitals to the centre.
She also said the current MediLink bus, which connects Queen’s Medical Centre and the City Hospital, could be extended to serve the new centre.
It would only treat people as inpatients, but rooms will be created to accommodate family members travelling to visit relatives.
Councillor Keith Girling, chairman of the council’s economic development and asset management committee, spoke in favour of the project.
He said: “I’m really excited about this, the prospect of what the learning is going to be is mindblowing.
“I think we should bear in mind it’s a national centre, not just people from Nottinghamshire, and it’s the people with the most need who can be integrated back into society.”
