On January 22, the North West Hospital and Health Service (HHS) executive team visited Normanton to meet with local residents and present the proposed landscaping designs for the new hospital.

This meeting marked an important step in the project, allowing community members to share their thoughts and suggestions for creating a welcoming and functional environment for hospital visitors.

The meeting was a valuable opportunity for locals to voice what they feel is necessary to make the hospital experience not just a place for medical care, but a place where people feel supported and safe.

Health Service Chief Executive, Sean Birgan, expressed his appreciation for all who took time out of their day to attend and for the ideas shared during the consultation and underscored how critical community feedback is to the success of the project.

“We truly believe a hospital is not just a healthcare facility but a part of the community – it’s a place where people come to learn, support their family and friends, and need to feel safe,” said Mr Birgan.

“Without input from the community, we wouldn’t have been able to identify all the elements that would make a real difference to the people who will use the hospital.

“Through this collaboration, we’ve received some great ideas – like including a remembrance wall and a kids’ play area outside – that we will be incorporating into the final design.  

“These suggestions will help make the space not only more functional but more meaningful for everyone who visits the facility.”

Normanton resident, Dianne Millwood, also shared her positive experience of the consultation.  

“It was a great opportunity to be involved in the process and I felt really heard,” said Ms Millwood.

“I’m really glad that they’re incorporating our ideas into the design because, at the end of the day, we are the ones who will be using the service.

“One thing I requested on behalf of the community is to plant a mango tree for shade and it’s also a fruit that grows great out here and would make a lovely addition to the space.”

The North West HHS is committed to ensuring that the final design reflects the needs and values of the Normanton community.

In the coming weeks, the final draft of the landscaping design incorporating the community suggestions, will be shared with local residents for approval.