Plans for new hospital in city to meet high demand

Plans have been submitted by a developer to build a new city hospital for day patients to tackle a "continued increase" in waiting times.

Thorpe Wood Hospital in Peterborough would be part of the private hospital group, Ramsay Health Care UK, which already runs the Fitzwilliam Hospital in the city.

In a report submitted to Peterborough City Council, developers ELG said the project would help to manage "excessive demand in the local health system".

It said the Fitzwilliam had already "reached capacity", adding: "Essential expansion is urgently required for day case and community diagnostics."

It said: "This investment is seen as being important and intrinsic to reducing the continued increase in patient waiting times and deferred treatment and diagnostic services in the community."

There would be on-site magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facilities and computed tomography (CT) scanners for early diagnostic and surgical intervention.

This would allow the Fitzwilliam to have more bed capacity for procedures such as complex surgeries.

The new facility would be dedicated to several different areas including general surgery, ophthalmology, urology and gynaecology.

The report said there was a "huge task" of clearing a backlog of NHS patients waiting for treatment, which has led to private hospitals taking on the care of some NHS patients.

It is estimated 142 members of staff would work at the hospital, caring for patients coming via the private sector as well as the NHS.

The single-storey hospital building is planned for a business park on the western edge of Peterborough.

The plans have yet to be considered by Peterborough City Council.

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