There are plans to expand Cornwall’s main private hospital to help cope with an increase in demand.

P+HS Architects, acting on behalf of Ramsay Health Care UK, have now asked Cornwall Council’s planning department for pre-application advice about the proposals for Duchy Hospital in Truro.

These would see an extension of the existing hospital to include new two operating theatres, additional recovery areas and expanded outpatient consulting rooms, along with extra car parking.

Ramsay Health Care is currently building an extension to the northern part of the hospital, to include new car parking and a diagnostic facility containing new X-ray, MRI and radiology accommodation.

This work is phase one, with the new proposals comprising an intended phase two of the redevelopment.

The existing hospital has three operating theatres, which the architects said can no longer meet the demands of an increasing number of patients awaiting treatment.

“To expand theatre capacity there is, by consequence, a need to improve and expand clinical and non-clinical support space to support the delivery of acute care,” the firm notes in documents accompanying the advice application.

The work would help Duchy Hospital keep up with demand (Image: Google Street View) The architects said several options had been explored with the hospital and this was the preferred option.

“No discussions have taken place with the local authority and we now seek comments from the planning department on the outline scheme design, to further inform the design proposals,” they added.

If ultimately given the go-ahead it is proposed that this second phase of work would include:

  • Two new operating theatres, including adjacent prep rooms, anaesthetic rooms, scrub bay and storage
  • An improved staff room and offices
  • A new stage one recovery area and expanded stage two recovery area
  • Extra bedrooms
  • Expanded outpatient consulting rooms
  • The physio department to be relocated, to allow for the increase in bedrooms
  • Stairs, lifts and link corridors to access the new extensions
  • A plant room serving the operating theatres
  • Additional car parking

The application goes on to state: “The existing hospital building is two storeys in height and is accessed by patients from the western entrance, enabling access to waiting areas, outpatients, inpatients and the proposed new diagnostic building.

“No changes are proposed to this entrance arrangement, however a small extension to the outpatients department will be visible to the north west corner of the site.

“All proposed expansion is planned to the rear of the hospital, visible only from Penventinnie Lane.”

It adds that the existing appearance of the hospital was likely to be replicated in the new extensions.

Ramsay Health Care has asked Cornwall Council for pre-application advice about the proposals (Image: Google Street View) The application concludes: “The project will greatly improve the existing hospital, allowing it to carry out an increased number of acute procedures and treat more patients in improved accommodation.

“The proposed works will create employment opportunities in both the construction of the facility and in the ongoing delivery of healthcare services. It will also be an asset to the local community, delivering complex acute healthcare services to the local health economy.”

An officer from Cornwall Council’s planning department will now give non-binding advice about how such an application was likely to be viewed in planning terms, and any recommendations for changes.

Ramsay Health Care and the architects will then decide whether to submit a full planning application for the work.