Expansion planned at Royal Blackburn Hospital
Working with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, architect Gilling Dod has put forward proposals to add a 17,000 sq ft acute medical unit at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
The extension is to be built on a staff car park and will be directly linked to the existing four-storey hospital building, completed in 2006.
The 17,000 sq ft extension will be next to the existing emergency department and acute medical unit; the additional acute medical unit will replace another AMU which is described as “remote” from existing emergency services, which causes “operational issues”.
The designs by Gilling Dod feature a 12,000 sq ft link to the existing hospital at first floor level with around 5,000 sq ft of plant and circulation space on the ground floor.
The first floor will include six bed bays, a front-of-house reception, facilities management, and staff support space. Each of the bed bays is arranged around the perimeter of the building to maximise natural light.
The extension is designed to free up space within the hospital, which will allow for refurbishment of existing wards, while it will also see the hospital co-locate several key functions including the AMU, the ambulatory emergency care unit, and the emergency department.
Plans for the project have been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council, although the council has not yet set a date to decide on the proposals.
Please provide and details regarding vacancies at the new building , admin/ nursing vacancies etc .
By Rukhsana hussain