IT IS being called a "once in a generation" investment programme.

Improvements at St Mary's Hospital and local NHS services took a major step forward this week as building work officially started.

A breaking ground ceremony was held on Friday to mark the milestone, attended by Isle of Wight NHS Trust chief executive Darren Cattell, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely, and Kier Construction's operations director Mark Norris, contracts manager Derek Jackson and project manager Matthew Wilks.

Also in attendance were Joe Smyth, director of operational performance at the trust and Cllr John Nicholson, chair of the policy and scrutiny committee for health and social care.

The Investing in Our Future programme, due to be completed by Spring 2024, will deliver improvements to upgrade hospital and community-based services to provide better quality care.

Mr Cattell said: “I am delighted to celebrate this important milestone. The £30.4 million investment in our hospital and community based services will see improvements to patient care, the environments we provide care in and transformation to our community mental health provision.”

Mr Seely said: “I am delighted that work has now started on this important project that will give NHS services on the Isle of Wight a major boost.

“Millions of pounds of government investment will not only help to upgrade facilities in St Mary’s, improve patient flow in the hospital and enable better use of beds, but it will also provide a much-needed integrated mental health and community hub in Newport High Street.

“These changes will benefit both our wonderful NHS staff and patients and I cannot wait to see the transformation take place over the next year or so.”

The investment programme will see a new £6.7 million integrated mental health and community hub, an improved £6.4 million intensive care unit, a £12.2 million new emergency floor and £5.1 million acute bed reconfiguration.

Further details can be found at www.investfuture.iow.nhs.uk