Alert (Information)

Construction work is currently taking place at the Berwick Infirmary site for the development of our new hospital.

Full details about the new hospital project are available below.

Update - January 2024: Demolition work is now taking place on site. If you are classed as vulnerable, it is recommended that you wear a mask while at the hospital. These are available at the front door.

Services provided at this hospital include:

  • Inpatient services for elderly medicine, orthopaedic rehabilitation and palliative care
  • Minor injuries unit which is open 24 hours and supported by GPs
  • Extensive outpatient clinics and day hospital services including ambulatory care
  • Diagnostics including x-ray, ultrasound, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, podiatry and intermediate care
  • Midwifery-led maternity unit with single delivery room and birthing pool
  • Pre-assessment and day surgical procedures
  • Oncology unit where chemotherapy treatments are carried out two days a week.

The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff remain our overall priority. We will keep visiting arrangements under regular review to support this.

Ward 1

Visiting is between the hours of 10am and 8pm.

Please help us keep everyone as safe as possible:

  • If you can, please book before visiting by contacting the ward.
  • Protected mealtimes are in place on all wards. This is so patients have a dedicated mealtime, free from interruptions. Relatives helping with feeding can be an exception. Please arrange this with the ward manager/nurse in charge.
  • Only two visitors can be at a bedside at any one time. Exceptions are at the discretion of the ward manager / nurse in charge. This would include patients having end-of-life care. Another example is patients with carers who help them with everyday activities. All visiting requirements are considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Each ward has a maximum number of visiting slots available each hour. This is in line with safe hospital ventilation standards.

If you would like children under 10 to visit, please talk to the ward manager / nurse in charge.

Our staff may refuse entry to visitors or manage visitor numbers. This could happen if an area becomes overcrowded. Wards may introduce specific and enhanced infection prevention measures.

Visiting people with mental health conditions, dementia and/or delirium, learning disabilities and/or autism

We will continue to make reasonable adjustments, so people can stay in touch with their loved ones.

Guidance for all visitors

Wash or gel your hands when entering and leaving our hospitals. Do the same when entering and leaving wards, bays or side rooms.

Please do not visit if you have been unwell or have signs of a cough or cold. Wait for 48 hours after diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms before visiting. If you are unsure, please contact us to see if it is safe for you to visit.

Please do not bring in food for patients. If not possible, staff will advise on how to store and dispose of food.

You may need to leave a bedside or ward if staff ask you to. We would ask that you are respectful of other patients during your visit.

To help prevent infections, please do not sit on the bed during visits. Please do not touch equipment.

We welcome service dogs that support a visitor to attend.

Berwick infirmary is situated within the town centre of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland.

By road

Address: Infirmary Square, Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1LT.

Exit the A1 at the East Ord roundabout and follow the A698 signposted Berwick. Go left at the next main roundabout and follow the signs for the town centre. At the roundabout, take the first exit over the bridge. Turn left at the next main junction and continue along the A1167 for 200 metres. Turn right onto Scott’s Place, then turn left onto Brucegate. Please note: Parking is currently in the Castlegate car park. From the A1167, turn right into the car park immediately after going under the town wall.

By bus

For up to date bus information, please use the Traveline service.

By rail

Berwick Infimary is a five minute walk from Berwick railway station. Check the Trainline website for timetables of all services.

Due to the ongoing redevelopment of the hospital, the parking spaces are currently not available.

All staff and visitors must now park in the Northumberland County Council-managed Castlegate car park adjacent to the hospital. Parking is free, but you must use a time-disc in the short-stay area.

Disabled Parking

There are designated free parking bays reserved for disabled drivers displaying a valid blue badge permit.

Concessionary car parking

We offer free car parking under certain circumstances for patients or their visitors. This includes those patients attending regularly over an extended period, visitors of long-stay patients and those who are staying in the hospital with patients. This list is not exhaustive and exemptions are issued by the ward or department manager – please speak to them if you think you may qualify.

Electric vehicle charging

This hospital has an electric vehicle charging point which is free to use for patients and visitors.

Car parking violations

Please note that failure to park in a designated bay or failure to pay for parking may result in you being issued with a civil penalty or infringement notice.

Restaurant

There is a restaurant selling food and drinks at the following times:

  • 10am-11am – pre-ordered hot sandwiches
  • Midday-1.45pm – lunches including main courses, sandwiches and salads
  • 3pm-4pm – hot and cold drinks with pre-ordered hot food available

In between these times you can get cold drinks and snacks.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas of this hospital – just choose NHS Wi-Fi on your smart device and follow the registration process to gain access.