Hospital could get up to sixty more beds

Around £12 million has been set aside to build a three-storey ward for 60 patients,

The expansion plans are in their early stages and if South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust opts for a two-storey, 40-bed extension, it will cost around £9.5 million.

A hospital spokeswoman said: “At the moment they are planned to be speciality wards. However, this may include a site reconfiguration and therefore creating additional general wards within the current ward provision.”

Explaining the need for new facilities, the spokeswoman said: “Whilst further developments in more community-based care will have some positive impact, the trust needs to build this additional capacity to cope with an increase in demand for healthcare services now and in the future.

“The main reasons for this increase in demand is a year-on-year increase in the size of our population and in particular an increase in older people within South Warwickshire.”

The trust, which also runs hospitals in Stratford and Shipston, hopes to have the work completed by the summer of 2015.

But the spokeswoman stressed: “No work will start until we obtain planning permission which is part way through the process. We hope to start work early next year.”

To make room for the medical facilities, the trusts’s estates department offices on the main site will be moved across Lakin Road and put within a new three-storey building, which is included in the costs for the new ward.

Warwick District Council planners have recommended granting permission at the planning committee meeting in Leamington Town Hall on Tuesday (October 15) at 6pm.

The trust’s formal application for planning permission for the new ward was expected to be submitted within the near future. The hospital has 400 beds at the moment.