The West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2QZ, Tel: 01284 713000

The West Suffolk Hospital was founded in 1832, moving to its new site in Hardwick Lane in 1973. It was the first of a new design of hospitals to be known as “Best Buy” hospitals. This was the first standard design to combine a compact and economical hospital to meet modern purposes, of which there are now three more in East Anglia (at Hinchinbrooke in Huntingdon, James Paget in Great Yarmouth and Queen Elizabeth II at King’s Lynn).

A major extension providing facilities for elderly patients opened in 1977, the Day Surgery Unit opened in 1994, the Education Centre opened in 2003 and the Eye Treatment Centre opened in 2004. Mental Health Services are managed by the Suffolk Mental Heath Partnerships NHS Trust within the Wedgewood Unit.

The West Suffolk Hospital has between 510 and 520 beds open at any one time.

Set in a 19-hectare parkland site on the edge of Bury St Edmunds, the hospital has scope for expansion to meet the developing health care needs of the people of West Suffolk.

Facilities

The hospital has a shops complex and a restaurant for staff, patients and visitors. The latter offers a variety of good value meals in a relaxed environment. The Education Centre houses the hospital library which has a wide range of resources, books, journals and computers to facilitate literature search and helpful librarians.

There is a National Westminster bank in the hospital which is available for all staff to use.

The hospital offers temporary accommodation on the West Suffolk Hospital site.

Outpatient Services

Outpatient services in the community provide convenient local access to consultant-led clinics. There are outpatient services at:

• Newmarket Community Hospital

• Thetford Cottage Hospital

• Haverhill Health Centre

• Mildenhall Clinic

• Stowmarket Health Centre

• Walnuttree and St Leonards Hospitals in Sudbury

Patients are also treated who live in the neighbouring counties of Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk and who choose to be referred to the West Suffolk Hospitals.