£45m three-year redevelopment of Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely proposed
A £45million three-year redevelopment of the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely is proposed that will bring more services to the site.
New buildings to replace the outdated facilities would be built, and more day surgery, outpatient, diagnostics and urgent care services would be provided under the vision revealed on Monday.
There are no plans to create an A&E at the hospital. However, a care home could be built as health authorities look to strengthen the link between hospital services and social care..
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, which owns the site, confirmed that a planning application will be submitted early in 2021 and South East Cambridgeshire’s MP Lucy Frazer has pledged to push for national funding to pay for the project.
Matthew Winn, chief executive of the NHS trust, said: “NHS and social care partners who currently provide services on site are working together to ensure we are able to meet the needs of a growing and ageing population.
“A planning application will be submitted in the new year which will set out ambitious plans to modernise services and create facilities that will vastly improve the patient experience and the working environment for staff.
“Our shared proposals are in line with all the local NHS and councils plans and there has been a broad consensus of support for redevelopment of the hospital for several years from local commissioners and providers of services on site and other key stakeholders.”
He said the redevelopment plans involved:
- building new, modern premises to replace outdated facilities, while retaining the day surgery unit
- delivering more day surgery, outpatient, diagnostic and urgent - but not emergency - care services, closer to people’s homes, while retaining all current services on site
- providing more joined-up care across health and social care services, including for frail, elderly people and those living with long-term conditions
- creating more physical space to meet the needs of a growing population, reducing the need for people to travel to Cambridge for some services
- building a new car park of no more than four levels to address the lack of parking on site
- harnessing digital technology to deliver modern healthcare including virtual consultations
The trust’s partners would explore opportunities to meet other needs, such as a care home, on site, said Mr Winn.
The redevelopment is expected to cost between £45million and £50million.
Tory MP Ms Frazer said: “Ensuring that first-class health services are available within close proximity is a critical local need. To ensure this, it is vital that we expand access to services to those in and around Ely, improving access to integrated services, including outpatient, diagnostic, and urgent care.
“I am extremely pleased that the Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and partners will soon be bringing forward their proposals for major upgrades at the Princess of Wales Hospital.
“I look forward to continuing to engage with local organisations as they develop their plans, and will make every effort to secure the necessary funding at a national level.”
Residents can offer their feedback ahead of the planning application during a virtual exhibition from December 1-14 on the NHS trust’s website.
Two online virtual engagement events will be held, offering the community a chance to ask questions. Details of these will be on the trust’s site from December 1.
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