Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is developing plans to bid for a new hospital to be built on the grounds the existing Royal Bolton Hospital site.

Outline plans are being drafted for the first phase of this which will include new facilities for maternity, neonatal, gynaecology and breast services and potential other services.

The trust hopes that a bid will be ready to be submitted for government funding from the hospital improvement programme in the spring.

Hospital chiefs say the estate is in need of vital repairs and modernisation, which have been brought under the spotlight as the hospital has been worked harder than ever during the coronavirus.

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Fiona Noden, chief executive of the Trust said: “This is such an exciting development for Bolton’s communities. It will mean the replacement of many old buildings that date back to the Victorian era, with state-of-the art buildings and facilities that our communities and staff deserve.

"While we’re still able to provide safe and effective care from our current buildings, the hospital isn’t fit to last for another generation and we really do need a new hospital.

“There are lots of reasons why a new hospital is needed including being able to better meet the health and wellbeing needs of a growing and ageing population with more complex needs and a desire to help people access care more comfortably.

“The estate is in need of significant repair, modernisation and upgrade. This is costly and takes too much time and it’s simply not good enough to meet what our community needs in the future.

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“We’ve managed with this well. But the pandemic has thrown the problems we’ve lived with into the spotlight.

"Narrow corridors, cramped spaces, open wards, less side wards – all things that make managing infection control and strict distancing really difficult. Our hope is that our community will join us in supporting our plans to provide them with a new hospital."

Members of the public are also being invited to join a number of virtual public meetings to hear more about the plans and have any questions answered.

For more information, visit boltonft.nhs.uk/2021/02/our-new-hospital-our-bid-for-phase-one

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