A multi-million pound new extension to the Royal Oldham Hospital which will address ‘health inequalities’ and a shortage of beds for patients has been given the green light.
Members of Oldham’s planning committee heard that the plans for the new four-storey development would address ‘historic under-investment’ at the Rochdale Road site. Speaking on Wednesday night, hospital chiefs said that it currently has some of the ‘poorest quality accommodation across Greater Manchester’ which affects the experience of staff and patients.
A shortage of beds at the hospital has meant that during high-pressure periods patients are regularly treated in corridors while they wait for spaces to open up on wards. Construction of the new £28m building – named ‘phase 4B’ – forms part of the Royal Oldham’s redevelopment and will start following the completion of phase 4A in August next year.
