Bolton NHS: Works take place amid wait for new hospital bid

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust currently has an application underway for government funding for a new building on the site of Royal Bolton Hospital on Minerva Road, Farnworth.

If approved, the new hospital building will be sited next to the maternity unit and will house maternity, neonatal, gynaecology and breast services.

But the trust continues to press ahead to creatre new modern facilties, including new theatres.

Trust chief operating officer Rae Wheatcroft said: “We will always do our best to provide the highest levels of care possible for our patients, but we continue to do this in a set of buildings which were designed and built more than 150 years ago.

An artist's impression of the new modular theatres (Image: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust)

“What was right for the Victorians isn’t right for this generation, a new hospital estate would help us better meet the needs of our communities.”

Plans for the new hospital were first submitted in September 2021, with the new site set to span more than 25,000 square metres and house just fewer than 200 beds.

The trust is also considering whether there will be scope to include paediatric wards and a children’s emergency department as well as a day case surgery unit along with chemotherapy services at the new building.

An artist's impression of the completed Bolton College of Medical Sciences (Image: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust)

The government is still considering the bid, but trust managers hope to hear soon if they have been successful.

Eight health trusts around the country are expected to be selected by health department officials for funding.

But until then, a range of works are being carried out on the existing estate at Royal Bolton.

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A new doctors mess and faith room have already been completed, while four new modular theatres are set to be completed by this summer.

The health trust is also a partner in the Bolton College of Medical Sciences project, which was made possible by £20milliom of Levelling Up funding.

Ms Wheatcroft said: “Providing facilities, equipment and technology which help our staff to do their jobs with ease, rest areas which help them relax and facilities which meet their faith needs helps us to remain one of the best places to work in Greater Manchester.”