Work starts on the new heart labs at Cumberland Infirmary

Lambert-gill are the appointed contractors for the works. The Cumbrian company recently won the tender for the £3.4m renovation and building project. 

The project will see two new catheter laboratories being built as well as a refurbishment of the current Heart Centre.

Demolition works begin (Image: NCIC)

Louise Buchanan, consultant cardiologist and associate medical director from the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: "I am very pleased that a local company Lambert-gill have been appointed to deliver this work after a very competitive tender process. The new labs will mean a much improved patient experience and also it will decrease the waiting time for patients to be treated.

"Work is due to start on September 5 and will continue until early summer 2023. The heart centre will remain fully operational while the build is taking place and patient care will not be interrupted."

READ MORE: Visit to Cumberland Infirmary was 'like visiting a hospital in the third world'

John Parkinson, managing director from Lambert-gill said: "We are delighted to have been entrusted with this important local project and look forward to the challenges of successful delivery in this sensitive location." 

All patients across north Cumbria who need emergency treatment for a severe heart attack or who need specialist cardiac treatment are supported by The Heart Centre.

There are more than 2000 procedures (both planned and emergency) carried out each year there.

The treatments include coronary angiography, in which x-ray is used to obtain images of the heart arteries and percutaneous coronary intervention – a procedure that can be used to unblock a blood vessel and implant a stent to keep the artery open.

Progress is made with new Heart Centre (Image: NCIC)

Prior to the specialist service being in the county patients had to travel to Newcastle or Middlesbrough for advanced treatments and therefore investment to ensure the service remains fit for purpose for the communities of north Cumbria was important.

READ MORE: 'Significant delay' in treatment at The Cumberland Infirmary's A&E department contributed to man's death

For more information on NCIC and the work that they do for patients and residents across north Cumbria you can visit their website which will provide regular updates.