Construction on Berwick Community Hospital has resumed after previous contractor Merit Group Services went into administration. The collapse left the majority of its 340 employees redundant. Joint administrators James Lumb and Will Wright were appointed to Merit Group Services Limited, Merit Health Limited, and Merit Holdings Limited in mid-November 2025.
The Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Opus Building Services Limited as an interim contractor to restart the project. The trust has also begun the process of selecting a permanent replacement contractor to complete the hospital.
Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said: “We are pleased to be able to provide people with an update on the next steps to ensure the construction of our new hospital continues to progress well. We would like to reassure people that we know how much this facility means to our staff, patients and local communities.”
Kent added that Opus has re-employed most of the on-site Merit team and is now established on site. He acknowledged the uncertainty over the completion timeline, saying: “It is very difficult to give an updated timeline in relation to when our new hospital will be completed. We appreciate everyone’s patience, and we would like to reassure people that we will keep everyone updated as we progress things.”
Internally, floors, walls, ceilings, and staircases have been installed. The inpatient ward and Well Close Medical Group areas are nearly finished, while work on the theatre and endoscopy areas is the next priority. Once construction is complete, the trust will test and validate all services in the building before staff and patients can access the facility.
Externally, site work continues to ensure the area is safe and secure. The trust emphasises that the hospital remains a priority for the local community and is committed to providing regular updates on progress.
