Campaigns have welcomed plans for a new theatre block at the Friarage — but have repeated calls for the hospital’s A&E to be reinstated.
It was announced last week that the Northallerton hospital is to receive £35.5m to build a new operating block.
The increased capacity will almost double the number of planned operations carried out on the site from 5,000 to just under 10,000 a year.
The plans will see the hospital’s six existing operating theatres replaced with a modern surgical hub that will include six main operating theatres, two minor operating theatres and a surgical admission and day unit.
The Save the Friarage Hospital Campaign group, which was established in 2019 following announcements that the hospital’s A&E was to be downgraded, has welcomed the investment.
However, Holly Wilkinson, leader of the group, said the new facilities meant it was even more important that a full A&E was reinstated.
“Whilst we welcome the news, we hope that further discussions and provision to support the new theatres such as reinstatement if the intensive care suite and A&E can be reviewed in the future.
“It is essential that the people of North Yorkshire have timely access to emergency medical services and this remains a concern and focus for the campaign group.
“If there is to be a new theatre block, then it is essential that there is fully operational accident and emergency department with full ITU back up provision.”
A spokesperson for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Creating a state-of-the-art surgical hub at the Friarage will enable the hospital to almost double the number of planned operations it carries out each year from just over 5,000 to almost 10,000.
“The NHS needs to increase capacity to support patients whose non-urgent care has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Friarage development is one of more than 50 new surgical hubs that are being
created across the country.
“This is just one of a number of exciting developments taking place at the Northallerton hospital which has
also recently opened a new £5million endoscopy and urology diagnostic hub as well as a new dialysis unit,
eye unit and rapid diagnostic centre.”
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