Plans for the future development of West Suffolk Hospital revealed
More parking, better access roads and a new facility that will save heart patients travelling are part of a draft master plan for the development of West Suffolk Hospital.
A four-week consultation begins next Monday (March 23) to give people the chance to give their feedback on the plan, which the hospital trust says has been drawn up taking into account the constraints of the existing site, its ecology and highways issues.
The masterplan shows where 420 additional parking spaces would be created, plus 10 to 20 disabled spaces and new cycle storage. The access road will also be widened to improve traffic flows and the hospital will try to get improved bus timetabling.
It identifies space for potential development of a cardiac catheterisation lab, which would mean patients no longer have to travel more than 40 miles to Papworth Hospital for treatment for heart conditions.
New staff accommodation, for which outline planning permission has been granted, is shown on the northern edge of the site next to St Nicholas Hospice.
It also proposes moving the sterile services department from its current base almost a mile away on Hospital Road onto the hospital site to improve efficiency.
Craig Black, executive director of resources, said: “This document sets out a framework for the short to medium term development of the hospital site and will help us plan for the future so that we can continue to meet the needs of our patients.
“It includes proposals for some exciting developments, including the sterile services building and cardiac catheterisation lab, which would make a huge difference to heart patients by ensuring they no longer had to go out of the area for treatment.
“We would encourage as many people as possible to share their opinions on this masterplan so that we can make sure our vision for the future reflects the views of the population we serve.”
A drop-in session has been arranged on Thursday April 2 to give people the chance to see the plans, ask questions and share their views. It takes place between 2pm and 8pm in the committee room at West Suffolk Hospital.
For more information about the master plan or to comment, visit www.wsh.nhs.uk/masterplanning.
