Multimillion-pound hospital expansion approved

Four new theatres, two 24-bed wards and 12 recovery bays will be built under the new plans

Multimillion-pound plans to expand a hospital in Warwickshire and reduce waiting times have been given the go-ahead.

The plans would see four new theatres, two 24-bed wards and 12 recovery bays built at the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, which manages the site, said Rugby Borough Council had now approved the plans.

The trust said the facilities would see new services introduced at the hospital, such as keyhole abdominal surgery.

Plans show that the new wards will also allow for the expansion of spinal surgery, inpatient gynaecology, hip and knee replacements and breast surgery.

Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer at UHCW, said: "The development of the Hospital of St Cross is a key priority for the trust, as we set out in our organisational strategy in 2022.

"Building a new inpatient ward and theatre facility is the first step in an ambitious longer-term vision for the site, ensuring the Hospital of St Cross plays a key role in improving the experiences of our patients and staff and driving down waiting times."

The theatre and ward complex will be set over three storeys, with the ground floor containing the operating theatres, the first floor housing two wards, and the second floor including a plant room to meet extensive mechanical and electrical requirements.

A new staff car park is also planned, creating more spaces for patients and visitors.