Armitage on board for revamp at Stepping Hill
The expansion of the Stockport hospital’s endoscopy unit has moved forward, with planning secured and a main contractor appointed.
Armitage Construction has been named as the main contractor for the enhancement project, which has been designed by DAY Architectural.
Stepping Hill has a dedicated team working in the endoscopy suite, which is used to examine inside a patient’s digestive tract for conditions including Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease and cancer.
Demand for these services is constantly increasing from 10,000 procedures in 2015 to just over 11,200 in 2018, and is expected to grow to over 13,000 a year by 2023. Such units mean a reduction in the volume of patients needing full surgery.
The expansion will see two new assessment rooms, a new procedure room and a redesigned recovery zone with two single-sex areas, together with new equipment.
The additional capacity will enable the team to carry out many more routine procedures as well as being better equipped to handle emergencies such as bleeding stomach ulcers. The unit will also have improved training facilities, enhancing training for doctors and nurses.
Work is to begin soon on the project which will include demolishing part of the old department to make way for the new extension. Disruption to services is being kept to a minimum.
The building is scheduled to be complete by May 2022.
Karen James, chief executive for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said “As demand for our endoscopy service continues to rise, this exciting new expansion at Stepping Hill Hospital will help us both meet that challenge, and provide an enhanced service for these patients.
“We’re looking forward to the new building being up and ready for use once the construction is finished.”
In the long term, plans for Stepping Hill could revolve around a relocation to the town centre, on a site that could include that currently occupied by the vacant Debenhams store and the Heaton Lane car park.
In September, the trust and Stockport Council launched a bid for funds to develop the project.
