New office planned to help with social distancing at Telford hospital
A new office building could be added at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital to “allow for improved social distancing” and free up care space in the main complex.
If approved, the two-storey block at PRH will be known as the “Ironbridge Suite” and placed on land west of the hospital, providing nearly 400 square metres of additional space.
Modular building manufacturer Catfoss Ltd has applied for planning permission, and a statement submitted on its behalf says it will give Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust staff more room to work and “free up space within the main hospital to be used for care purposes”.
Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council will be consulted, and Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning department will make its decision at a later date.
In a statement accompanying the application, planning agent Brian Kavanagh of Nicholas Taylor and Associates says: “This is a modular development which will deliver much-needed administrative facilities for the hospital staff.
“The new building will be located to the west of the site, adjacent to an existing health centre building, on a parcel of brownfield land adjacent to existing car parking.
“This development will not see an expansion of staff, but will allow for improved social distancing and free up space within the main hospital building to be used for care purposes.
“Between Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the PRH, the trust employs 5,000 staff.
“The PRH has approximately 285 acute adult inpatient beds and 36 acute paediatric inpatient beds.
“The focus of this application is a small portion of land to the west of the site adjacent to the Malling Health Wrekin GP Practice and Walk-in Centre.
“A detached two-storey modular building will be erected to create additional office space for hospital staff over two storeys.
“Four open-plan office areas will be created, two per floor.
“In total this will deliver 386 square metres of additional floorspace.”
Computer-generated images within Mr Kavanagh’s statement and other blueprints show the building bearing signs with the name 'Ironbridge Suite'.
Mr Kavanagh writes: “Initially, this development will allow for social distancing to be observed for hospital staff.
“Longer-term, this development will free up areas within the main hospital building to be utilised for front-line care purposes.
“This application will not increase patient intake or increase staff numbers.”
