Hospital planning to expand maternity department

APPThe capacity of Leighton Hospital's maternity operating theatres was said to be at its limit, according to the application

A hospital wants to extend a ward in its maternity department and build an operating theatre.

Ward 26 is the main birthing facility at Leighton Hospital, Crewe, and the department's two operating theatres are said to be in need of refurbishment.

Adding a third theatre would allow that work to happen and also help meet demand from a growing local population, according to a planning application.

Eight parking spaces would be lost but the recent main car park extension could accommodate the "small" loss, it added.

The theatre suites were "no longer fit for modern use," and need "significant refurbishment works," according to documents submitted to Cheshire East Council on behalf of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

But because the maternity department is needed all year round, the operating theatres cannot be closed.

The new theatre would initially be used as a "decant facility" during the work but longer term would increase the capacity of the department, stated the application.

The hospital wanted permission for a single-storey link extension building, a modular operating theatre and waste hold with partial second storey to provide a first floor plant area.

The application was due to be determined by a planning officer under delegated authority.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.