Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP, Elena Whitham, has welcomed the news that a new National Treatment Centre, on the grounds of the former Carrick Glen Hospital in Ayr, have been approved.
Ms Whitham reckons the new orthopaedics treatment centre, which is part of a £400m investment in 10 centres across the country, will play a “pivotal role” in reducing waiting times for Ayrshire patients.
Ayrshire Live gave readers an exclusive first glimpse of the ambitious Dalmellington Road proposals back in October.
The plans included major alterations and the building of an extension at the current site.
Last year, the former private healthcare hospital was taken over by NHS Ayrshire & Arran with a view to becoming part of the network of 10 national treatment centres (NTCs) around the country.
Carrick Glen was purchased for £1.8 million.
Now that the proposals have been green lighted, the centre will specialise in orthopaedics, which should help reduce waiting times locally.
Orthopaedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system.
Surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical methods to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumours, and congenital disorders.
Ms Whitham said: “I am delighted to hear that planning permission has been granted for works at Carrick Glen Hospital to allow it to continue its transition from private ownership to an NHS National Treatment Centre, specialising in orthopaedics.
“Carrick Glen will form part of a network of 10 National Treatment Centres following a substantial investment of more than £400 million by the Scottish Government.
“These centres will play a pivotal role in the recovery of the NHS, significantly boosting the national capacity for surgeries and procedures by an impressive 40,000 annually.”
She added: “I trust this development, initiated by the SNP Government and NHS Ayrshire & Arran, will be welcomed by people in the region and beyond. I look forward to following works closely as the MSP for the area.”
Once work is complete, the two-floor NTC project will provide approximately 4150 sqm of accommodation, incorporating a Peri Operative department featuring pre and post surgery rooms and two theatres, including support accommodation.
The plans also include 11 inpatient bedrooms with accessible en-suite facilities and in-patients department and staff accommodation.
There will be landscaped areas, designed for “minimal maintenance” and courtyard space for patients and staff and accessible parking at the front door drop off area- with additional accessible spaces provided close by.
The entrance, peri-operative suite, theatres and theatre support will be mostly located on a single ground floor, while the in-patient rooms will be located on the upper floors, to allow “security, privacy and ventilation.”
The design statement also says the plans have been developed to be “fully accessible throughout” and will be ‘dementia friendly’ too and accessible for those with “other physical conditions,” including those who are visually impaired.
The design statement adds: “This is fundamental in the development of healthcare facilities and, in particular, those for orthopaedic care.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "“We welcome the approval of the planning application for the new National Treatment Centre at Carrick Glen Hospital which will specialise in orthopaedics.
"The National Treatment Centre programme marks the largest expansion in elective care capacity in NHS Scotland.”
Nicola Graham, Director of Infrastructure and Support Services at NHS Ayrshire & Arran, said in a statement: "We are delighted that the planning permission for Carrick Glen has been granted.
"The completed National Treatment Centre (NTC) will have an area around double the existing facility’s current floor area which will provide two operating theatre suites, as well as additional treatment and consulting rooms to significantly increase the elective orthopaedic capacity within NHS Ayrshire & Arran.
"The number of inpatient beds will be between 10 and 12 beds. However, the majority of procedures will be day-case patients.
"The NTC programme strategy aims to develop additional capacity within the system. There is a national group co-ordinating the additional workforce recruitment, and so we will be recruiting staff to work in the NTC."
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