James Cook University Hospital

The James Cook University Hospital is a tertiary referral hospital and regional major trauma centre in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England located on the A172 (Marton Road). Having 1,046 beds, it caters for most specialities and forms part of the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, along with the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton. History Construction of the hospital began in 1980 on the parkland of the former St Luke's Hospital, Middlesbrough. Officially opened by the Duchess of Kent in November 1981 as a tertiary care centre called South Cleveland Hospital, it later became an extensive hospital with A&E. Its maternity unit was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales in October 1988. The hospital became the James Cook University Hospital in 2001 to reflect the local heritage and growing academic links. New facilities were procured under a Private Finance Initiative contract to replace Middlesbrough General Hospital, North Riding Infirmary and the neuro-rehabilitation unit at West Lane Hospital in 1999. These new facilities were designed by HLM Architects, built on the site by Mowlem at a cost of £96 million and opened in August 2003. In April 2012, the hospital became a major trauma centre for Durham, East Cleveland, Tees Valley and North Yorkshire, participating in the wider Northern trauma network.