Phase one of plans to bid for a new hospital to be built on the existing grounds of the Royal Bolton Hospital have been approved by the Trust's board of directors.
The Bolton News revealed in December last year how the hospital was hoping to secure a slice of the Government’s Health Infrastructure Plan funding, billed as the ‘biggest boldest, hospital building programme in a generation’.
The Trust was said to be preparing a ‘compelling’ bid for more than £100m to be spent on a ‘new flagship build on the Royal Bolton site’ to help rejuvenate the hospital's ‘ageing estate’.
Phase one of these plans have now been approved by the Trust's board of directors, which is a 'key milestone in the project', the hospital say.
A strategic outline case (SOC) is ready to now be submitted to government as part of the National Health Improvement Programme.
Phase one of the hospital's plans includes significant improvements to the women, children’s and maternity services, in a new development next to the existing maternity unit on the current hospital site. This will include maternity, neonatal and gynaecology services, the breast unit, chemotherapy and day case theatres.
It would span over 25,000 square metres and house just under 200 beds — the new hospital would bring the services and staff together in one place so that the treatments and help people receive improves their health and wellbeing and improves their experience, the hospital said.
Fiona Noden, Chief Executive at the Trust said: "We’re pleased to be moving onto the next step in our journey to a brand new hospital – one that our communities and staff deserve.
“Our plans are ambitious and they form part of a masterplan, a blueprint for how healthcare should be provided to meet the complex needs of our growing population.
“We’re confident that they fit what our diverse communities have told us they need, and we are keen to progress them to the next stage when bidding opens.
“We’ll keep everyone informed at each step about how we’re making plans to build our new hospital, for a better Bolton.”
Should the hospital be successful in their bid, it is expected that the new build would be completed by late 2025.
Plans have been designed in such a way to support additional phases of development as future funding opportunities are identified.
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