HEALTH chiefs have confirmed that a £500,000 cash injection is to be made to reopen Bridgnorth Hospital’s operating theatre. Campaigners have warmly welcomed the announcement that improved facilities will be in place before the end of the current financial year in March.
The good news was broken on Saturday by League of Friends chairman Brian Mayhew-Smith at an event held in the hospital grounds.
The theatre was closed in January because it did not meet national standards. The shutdown prompted more than 4,500 people to sign a petition presented to the Shropshire Primary Care Trust. The PCT has now agreed to a business case to provide funding to refurbish the theatre. The half a million pound investment includes £250,000 from the League of Friends.
The total funding will bring a range of major improvements to the unit, including new equipment and alterations to the space itself to meet latest infection control standards.
Once complete, it will enable day case surgery to resume. Treatments such as foot surgery will return, meaning that patients will no longer have to travel further afield.
“I am delighted that thanks to close working between the PCT and the League of Friends and the league’s incredibly generous donation, we are able to overcome the difficult financial climate to reinstate a safe, modern surgery unit,” said Shropshire PCT community health services managing director, Paul Draycott.
“The very small number of general anaesthetic procedures previously carried out in the theatre won’t be able to be done there in the future. However, we are working to bring in new types of procedures to use the theatre’s full capacity.”
Mr Mayhew-Smith said the league was delighted with the PCT decision. “The new development will bring tremendous benefits to the people of Bridgnorth and the surrounding area and also shows the PCT’s commitment to the future of the hospital.
“Although we have not yet seen the full business case, the scheme will ensure that the majority of the work previously done in the theatre can now be returned to the hospital and new procedures can also be undertaken,” he added. He thanked everyone in Bridgnorth for their support.