“The modernisation of Svitavy Hospital is a project we have been discussing for many years and one that has spanned several terms of regional government. The start of construction clearly demonstrates that we have been serious about this project all along and have been preparing for it accordingly. Having completed the emergency care pavilions with central emergency departments at Pardubice and Ústí nad Orlicí hospitals, it is only logical that our attention now turns to Svitavy Hospital, which is in genuine need of comprehensive modernisation.

While visitors arriving at the hospital see a relatively new entrance pavilion with recently centralised intensive care services, immediately behind it lies a highly outdated inpatient section dating back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is therefore essential that we bring the hospital’s entire infrastructure into the twenty-first century,” said Governor Martin Netolický, who is also responsible for the region’s finances.

Regarding financing, Governor Netolický added: “The entire project was tendered at CZK 1.367 billion. At present, we are counting only on partial funding from European sources, with the overwhelming majority of the investment being financed from the regional budget. We have, in fact, been preparing for this investment for several years. A further advantage is that construction will be spread out until 2030, allowing the costs to be distributed across several regional budgets.”

Tomáš Gottvald, Chief Executive Officer of the Pardubice Region Hospitals Group, emphasised the hospital’s long-term future: “By launching the modernisation of Svitavy Hospital today, we are not building a hospital merely for 2030, but for decades to come. Our aim is to create a healthcare facility that meets current medical standards while remaining flexible enough to respond to the changing needs of the region. Population ageing, evolving patterns of healthcare provision and growing demands for diagnostics will place new requirements on district hospitals.

Our objective is to ensure that Svitavy Hospital is prepared for these changes and remains a strong general hospital providing high-quality and accessible care to local residents. In the coming years, we also plan to establish an MRI unit on site. At the same time, alongside the individual construction phases, we are already preparing equipment for the new facilities—from medical technologies to furnishings—with an anticipated investment of almost CZK 300 million.”

The modernisation of the Svitavy Hospital campus presents significant challenges not only financially but also from a construction perspective. Hospital operations must remain fully functional throughout the works, requiring the project to be divided into several phases.

“The first step will be the demolition of the former ambulance service building, followed by refurbishment of the existing Pavilion A, which houses operating theatres and intensive care units among other departments. Construction of the new Pavilion C will then begin. The final stage will see the development of a new pavilion accommodating paediatrics, internal medicine and surgery,” explained Dušan Salfický, First Deputy Governor responsible for investments.

The implementation itself will be divided into three stages over a period of 49 months, including intervals for commissioning new facilities and relocating hospital operations.

“This is a demanding project in every respect. There will be demolition, construction, installation, commissioning and relocation—all while the hospital remains operational. I would therefore like to ask patients, visitors and, above all, our staff for their understanding and patience. I am convinced that the reward for all of us will be a modern hospital environment,” said Pavel Štefka, Deputy Governor responsible for healthcare.

Pavel Kunčák, Director of Svitavy Hospital, highlighted the organisational challenges ahead: “We face several years during which extensive construction activity will need to be balanced with the hospital’s day-to-day operations. This involves not only the construction works themselves, but also numerous departmental relocations, organisational changes and adaptation to new conditions. However, we gained valuable experience during the recent centralisation of intensive care services, and I am confident that together with our staff we will successfully manage this phase while maintaining safe and high-quality patient care.”

The successful bidder for the project was the consortium VCES – SYNER for the Construction of Svitavy Hospital, comprising VCES a.s. and SYNER, s.r.o.

“On 1 July, we will take possession of the construction site and commence works on Phase 0, which involves the reconstruction of the former utility building and its conversion into a pathology facility complete with technical support infrastructure,” said Jiří Cetkovský, Deputy Production Director of VCES a.s. He added: “I am convinced that the experience both our companies have gained from healthcare construction projects in recent years will be put to excellent use during the modernisation of Svitavy Hospital. This is an exceptionally complex project requiring precise coordination, a high degree of professional expertise and close cooperation among all parties involved.”

The project is also strongly supported by the municipal leadership.

“The town has sought to be an active partner throughout the project. We are already exploring options to increase parking capacity around the hospital, which will be needed in the future. Together with hospital management, we are also looking for ways to attract new staff. We offer assistance with accommodation in municipal housing and other forms of support that may make it easier for healthcare professionals to choose Svitavy as their place of work,” said David Šimek, Mayor of Svitavy.

New Park Open to Patients and the Public

The ceremonial commencement of the hospital modernisation took place in the revitalised park located next to the Psychiatry Pavilion and St Joseph’s Church.

“In its original state, the park had become severely neglected, and we therefore undertook its restoration so that it could serve not only hospital patients and visitors, but also the wider public. The total investment amounted to CZK 20 million,” said Governor Martin Netolický.

The project included the renovation of pathways, creation of flowerbeds, planting of shrubs and trees, and installation of street furniture. New walls have also been constructed to separate the park from both the Psychiatry Pavilion and U Stadionu Street.

Overview of Construction Phases

Phase 0

The former laundry and utility facility will be converted into accommodation for the pathology department and associated technical infrastructure. This phase will also include demolition of the ambulance service building.

Construction Phase 1 – Stage 1

• Refurbishment of Pavilion A, including reconstruction of existing facilities and the creation of a reception area and waiting room for the low-acuity section of the Emergency Department.
• Construction of the new Pavilion C, which will accommodate services such as the Emergency Department, Radiodiagnostics Department, inpatient wards for internal medicine and surgical specialties, recovery rooms, maternity services and endoscopy.
• Extension of the transformer station to accommodate a new main electrical distribution facility serving the entire hospital.
• Demolition of selected existing buildings.

Construction Phase 1 – Stage 2

• Continuation of demolition works.
• Construction of Pavilion D, which will house paediatric, internal medicine and surgical departments.