£44m new hospital supercentre preview

LARGE SCALE: the centre even has an enclosed outdoor play area

THE Chronicle was given a sneak preview of Oldham’s new £44million women and children’s supercentre yesterday.

Members of the public were also invited on the tour to see the facilities and meet the staff who will work in the building.

The long-awaited centre, at the Royal Oldham Hospital, will house one of only three regional neonatal units in the region, offering the highest level of intensive care to vulnerable babies.

The centre will have 37 cots - nine intensive care, nine high-dependency and 19 special-care - and is expected to treat around 8,000 children a year. First patients will arrive at the weekend, in a structured opening that will put the centre fully in business by mid-December