The former Women and Children’s Unit at Royal Oldham Hospital came crashing down this week as demolition crews began razing the deteriorating building that has stood as a community eyesore since 2012.

The Sheepfoot Lane structure, which closed 13 years ago when services relocated to a £44 million extension on the main hospital site, is being demolished after Oldham Council approved the Northern Care Alliance’s application in January. The building had steadily declined after falling out of use.

“The proposed part of the former Women and Children’s Building is no longer fit-for-purpose and is now considered surplus to the delivery of patient services at Royal Oldham Hospital,” said Euan Connolly, the NCA’s principal planner. “As such, the demolition of the building would free up valuable space to enable works to facilitate the installation of an aseptic unit within the curtilage of the hospital site.”

Photographs from the scene show the structure reduced to rubble and bricks, with building foundations still visible and interior walls exposed to the elements. The Northern Care Alliance confirmed plans for the new aseptic unit, which will allow hospital staff to safely sterilize equipment for chemotherapy and intravenous treatments, remain at the design stage.

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