A range of outpatient services that currently run from the Lowestoft Hospital site are set to move to 'more modern and suitable accommodation' in the town later this month.

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft HospitalPHOTO: Nick ButcherLowestoft HospitalPHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2016)

The outpatient services – which include dermatology, community paediatrics, antenatal, rheumatology and dietetics – are currently run from the family health resource centre on the old hospital site in Tennyson Road.

These will be moving to the Kirkley care clinic site in south Lowestoft next Wednesday, May 18.

The community midwives and dietician team, which pays home visits across the area, will also move its base to the Kirkley care clinic, which is found behind Kirkley Mill GP practice on Clifton Road.

A spokesman for the James Paget University Hospitals (JPUH) NHS Foundation Trust, which owns Lowestoft Hospital, said: 'The moves are in line with decisions made following a public consultation in 2013 on proposals to improve healthcare provision in Lowestoft.

'Healthcare partners agreed to close the hospital, which had ageing, outdated and unsuitable accommodation and to transfer outpatient services to more modern and suitable accommodation in the town.

'Since then, the services offered to patients have occupied only a small proportion of the site.'

All staff affected by the move have been informed – and patients who currently attend outpatient clinics at Lowestoft Hospital are being sent letters to inform them that their appointments will now take place at the Kirkley care clinic.

However, the phlebotomy service will remain based at the hospital site, along with the community dental service, which will continue to be provided from the mobile dental surgery, until suitable accommodation in the town can be found.

The spokesman added: 'The trust is considering options for the future of the site as part of its overall estates strategy for the next four years.'

? Have you got a Lowestoft story? Email mark.boggis@archant.co.uk