Hospital plans new unit to protect services

How the new endoscopy unit at Lincoln County Hospital could look

Plans have been lodged to build a new endoscopy unit at Lincoln County Hospital.

United Lincoln Hospitals NHS Trust said the new unit would replace a temporary wooden building that is more then 30 years old.

"The environment is poor for both patient care and staff working," the application to City of Lincoln Council stated.

The trust warned that without new facilities, the hospital could lose accreditation for the service, meaning there was a "strong likelihood" that patients would have to travel out of the county.

Planning documents said the temporary unit was running at maximum capacity, with no room for expansion, and improved facilities would increase the number of endoscopy procedure rooms.

Roughly 65 patients per day are expected to be seen within the new unit, rising to 80 when the additional procedure rooms become operational.

About 40 parking spaces would be lost to the development, but alternative provision would be provided across the rest of the hospital site, according to the application.

The development would provide "modern healthcare facilities" and there was a "strong justification and need" for them.

“The proposed development is of a high-quality design, of an appropriate scale and makes beneficial use of previously developed land, whilst also reinforcing the role of the hospital as a key provider of healthcare facilities,” the application added.

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