By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A building providing three new operating theatres at Nottingham City Hospital will now be three storeys in height after the designs were changed.
Plans were initially approved by Nottingham City Council in December, and it is hoped the new theatres will help cut patient waiting times in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
They are part of a £35m scheme which Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) says will help more than 4,700 patients get care sooner.
Money for the project has been provided by the Government.
The first phase of the centre, providing 24 inpatient beds, was finished last year.
Phase two will include a day-case facility and the three operating theatres, and is expected to be complete by winter this year.
Initial plans approved last year showed the new building spanning two storeys.
Under the updated plans the building will now be three storeys, pending approval from the council.
Duncan Hanslow, programme director for reconfiguration at NUH, said: “As part of this ongoing process, the designs for the elective hub have been further developed to ensure that the hub will support us to provide high-quality, safe, efficient and effective care for patients, both now and in the future.
“This latest updated design includes the ground refurbishment and extension of an existing building within the main theatre estate at City Hospital, alongside the creation of a three-storey new build.
“Funds for the scheme have come from the Government’s Targeted Investment Fund (TIF), an initiative first announced in December 2021 which aims to increase capacity and reduce waiting lists in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and mounting operational pressures.
“These updated designs have now been submitted to Nottingham City Council for approval and we look forward to hearing their decision.”
According to a design and access statement, the new plans will provide “state-of-the-art facilities for patients and clinical services providing improved operational efficiencies”.
The new theatres will come with ancillary rooms including anaesthetics, scrub, dirty utility, and a preparation room.
A training room, seminar room and changing facilities will also be provided.
“The ground floor refurbishment and small new build extension will accommodate the admission and discharge pods, and will generally be fully stripped out and refitted in accordance with the design and will include a replacement roof,” the plans say.
“The new build will accommodate the three new theatres and staff facilities on the first floor and plant room located at second floor level.
“Vertical access will be through a new accommodation stair and a refurbished
bed lift providing access to all levels for staff and patients including maintenance and access.”
