Exciting plans are underway to build a new day treatment centre at the Freeman Hospital to help us address some of the waiting list challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This fast-track project – expected to open in August 2022 – will see the development of four new theatres (as well as day case assessment and a recovery area), enabling our teams to carry out thousands of additional low complexity procedures in specialties such as musculoskeletal health (MSK), urology, surgery and some cardiothoracic services.
The building is being delivered within provisions of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Coronavirus) (England) (Amendment) Order 2020 under coronavirus legislation.
About the day treatment centre
The new stand-alone building will be at the front of the Freeman Hospital site, near the main hospital.
The facility will allow us to transfer thousands of day case procedures from our main hospital theatres which, in turn, will free them up to carry out more complex work, as well as supporting the trust’s programme to increase planned (elective) surgery and reduce long waits in the most challenged surgical specialties.
Doing this also allows us to transform procedures that have traditionally required an overnight stay into a day case, achieving our aim of reducing patient days away from home.
This £20million investment will support patients from across the city and the wider region and it is hoped building work, which is being done in partnership with Robertson, will be completed in August 2022, with services starting in the following weeks.
The building will be single-storey to all clinical areas, with a double height plantroom to house all the critical plant and equipment needed.
Why is this building needed?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the NHS and our services across Newcastle Hospitals and we are now facing a situation where many patients have been waiting months for their planned surgery, which is not what any of us want.
It is also clear that the pressure on our urgent care services is not easing and we are continuing to see lots of patients who need emergency care and treatment, which is still impacting on our waiting lists.
To try and address these challenges, we have embarked on this fast-track project which will allow us to do thousands more low-complexity procedures, which is good news for patients.
Our plans
We are delighted to share an outline of our plans for this exciting new development below which cover:
- Approved general arrangement plan
- Site plan
- Proposed elevations and elevation treatment (still under review)
- 3D images and artist impression
If you have any comments or questions about this scheme please do not hesitate to contact us at nuth.newbuilds@nhs.net
New day treatment centre at the Freeman Hospital
