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Mayor of Kirklees Clr Cahal Burke visited the new A&E at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary in his first week in the role.
The new £15 million centre is due to open at the end of September or early October, though no date has yet been fixed.
The project is said to be on budget and on schedule but the opening date will depend on clinical commissioning, staff training and the safe transition of services.
It is understood that around 80% of the labour and supplies were sourced locally, boosting the local economy.
Training and apprenticeships were also offered to local young people in a partnership with Kirklees College. Student Joshua Gordge-Jones impressed during work experience on the site and secured a plumber’s apprentice role at Clifford Cooper & Sons, of Elland.
Mayor of Kirklees Clr Cahal Burke (left) sees some blue sky thinking on the ceiling at the new A&E
Kirklees College student Joshua Gordge-Jones has secured an apprentice role at Clifford Cooper & Sons in Elland
The Mayor was accompanied by fellow Lindley Liberal Democrat councillor Anthony Smith and they were shown around by A&E consultant Mark Davies and Anna Basford, director of transformation at the Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
Also joining them were Eddie Parker, of construction firm Vinci, and Emma Kovaleski, of the CHFT Charity, one of the two charities being supported by the mayor during his year of office.
Clr Burke described what has been achieved as “fantastic” and added: “I am really impressed with what has been completed so far and all the energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved which is creating so much for the local community.”
Clr Burke loved the detail too such as images of the sky on the ceiling of the unit which is designed to help distract children when they have to visit A&E.
Clr Smith said the emphasis on keeping things focused on all local opportunities was “the right thing to do.”
Tom Donaghey, the Trust’s head of estates, said: “From the start we wanted this project to have a positive impact on our local communities and Joshua is proof of that. We wish him well and we’re glad he’ll always remember his time on the new A&E at HRI.”
