TEIGNMOUTH Hospital's Kingfisher Ward could be open by April. It has been out of bounds since engineers condemned the 56-year-old lift in August, but now a contractor has been appointed to carry out the £125,000 scheme. Kone PLC will need to install a specially-made lift due to the age of the original lift and the construction of the lift shaft. The lift was installed when the hospital was rebuilt after the war and has served the hospital since that time. But despite regular maintenance, it is now in need of urgent replacement. Work is due to start on February 12 and completion scheduled for March 31. Operations director Pat McDonagh said: 'We are delighted to announce that Kone Plc has been awarded the contract to replace the Teignmouth hospital lift. The hospital is at the heart of the community and we will be pleased to re-open the upstairs ward for Teignmouth patients in April 2007. 'The final costs are likely to be £120,000 and will be funded from a generous donation of £50,000 from Teignmouth League of Friends, for which we are extremely grateful, with the balance coming from capital funds.' Teignmouth inpatients are being offered beds in other Teignbridge community hospitals and at home care. Other services at the hospital including outpatient appointments, operations in the theatre, and other clinics are unaffected by the temporary inpatient ward closure.
