Alexandra Hospital: Work progressing on two new theatres

Last year plans were pulled to build seven new theatres to ultimately replace the existing theatres in favour of building two additional theatres.

Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust said they have future intentions to refurbish the current theatres, which have been declared as at ‘the end of their natural lifespan’, in line with the trust’s backlog maintenance surveys.

The new theatres will address increased waiting lists. (Image: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust)

A document accompanying the partly retrospective planning application for the two theatres states: “The two new theatres will provide additional capacity to complement the existing theatres within the hospital building, allowing the trust to address the expanded list of operations as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Furthermore, expanded theatre capacity will allow a planned and phased approach to be taken to the long overdue refurbishment of the existing theatres the trust has identified now that they have reached the end of their lifespan.

“The new theatres will provide improved clinical space, allowing more flexibility and be better suited to current clinical practices.

“Refurbishment of the existing theatres has previously been considered, but the option to create additional clinical space has been chosen as the preferred solution to meet current demand, minimising disruption to the existing theatres.”

The trust posted on Facebook: “Building work is progressing nicely on our construction of two new modular operating theatres at Alexandra Hospital.

“The new theatres are an important step in our vision of the Alex as a surgical centre of excellence for patients from across Worcestershire and beyond.”

The new theatres, which will be used for elective procedures, will sit next to a stage one recovery area where patients are either discharged or transferred to existing ward accommodation.