The staff at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust have chosen a name for the new hospital ward under construction.

By popular vote, they have opted for Imber, chosen as a tribute to the 'lost' village taken over by the military in 1943 to train American troops ahead of D-Day. It has never been returned to civilian use.

The new £14m building, scheduled to open in Spring 2024, will provide 24 additional beds, incorporating a mix of four-bed bays and side rooms, which clinical teams have been heavily involved in designing.

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By providing extra bed capacity, Imber Ward will underpin the hospital’s elective recovery programme. The extra beds mean elderly care patients will be cared for in a dedicated space, which will allow surgical beds to be better used to deliver elective care such as day surgery.

Stacey Hunter, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust CEO, said:  ”We are delighted with the progress being made in the construction of our new ward, and it’s great to have given it a name.

"Imber Ward will provide elderly care in a state-of-the-art modern environment, supporting the Trust’s elective recovery programme.

"The ward marks a major milestone in our trust’s efforts to deliver the very best compassionate, effective care to our community.”