PROGRESS is being made at Christchurch Hospital, as development work begins on a new care home and apartments.

As part of the multi-million pound project to transform the Fairmile site, work has been taking place on the site to improve the facilities at the hospital.

Last year, demolition of the former workhouse infirmary, H Block, took place, creating room for the new 80-bed nursing home and 35 assisted living flats.

Building work has now started on this, and is expected to be completed next summer.

Once open the care home is expected to create around 100 jobs.

Over the past few months, the outpatients department has moved back to its original location, after a refurbishment, with the League of Friends shop and tea bar located there as well.

The newly refurbished hospital pharmacy is also located in outpatients, while the blood test service is now run from a dedicated area next to the Courtyard Dining Room.

Richard Renaut, chief operating officer, said: “It’s great to see so many of our services operating from refurbished areas and the new build elements of this project taking shape.

“Thank you to our patients and staff for being so accommodating and for their continued support for Christchurch Hospital.

"We know it is a much-loved local facility and we’re really excited for the developments to come over the next few months.”

The next stage of the project will see Forest Dene refurbished, and the Day Hospital relocated to the site by December.

And work has already started on building a new GP surgery, retail pharmacy and X-ray department. This stage is due to be finished by summer 2016.

Next year, G Block will also be demolished with a new entrance and road created.

The Courtyard Dining Room will remain open until then. A spokesperson for the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Trust said alternative catering options are being explored.

And once G Block is demolished, there is also 'potential' for a new Macmillan Unit on site and housing for key workers.

Discussions are still continuing on this, the spokesperson added.