New £10m 72-bed ward could be built on car park at Queen Alexandra Hospital

Plans have been submitted for the two-storey £10m development, which would be constructed on the hospital's existing north car park and connected to the rehab building via a bridge.

If approved by the city council the almost 7,000 square metre site would include 15 four-bed wards and 12 single-bed wards.

All would have en-suites, as well as therapy rooms, stores, offices, a day room and kitchens.

A Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust spokesman said: 'Increasing the number of beds available at Queen Alexandra Hospital will improve resilience, resulting in continued improvements to waiting times for our patients, reduced bed occupancy and reduced pressure on emergency services.

'Increasing resilience on the hospital site will support us to meet future demand and changing needs, including supporting our existing partnership with the Isle of Wight NHS Trust.

'The development will also provide additional accommodation to enable backlog maintenance works as required.'

Subject to approval, it is thought work will begin by the end of January, with the first ward expected to be available for use next summer.

However, some concerns had been raised about the loss of parking.

SEE ALSO: Four more Covid deaths confirmed at QA Hospital

During a health overview and scrutiny panel (Hosp) meeting this week ward councillor for Cosham, Councillor Lee Mason, said: 'I think parking is still very much an issue in the minds of the residents. When you get to the next phases please think about being generous with parking.'

The Trust spokesman added: 'All patient and visitor parking impacted by this development will be re-provided on the hospital site.

'We are developing a package of measures to help alleviate traffic congestion, manage demand for parking and promote sustainable travel.'

It comes as separate proposals to build a new emergency department at QA at a cost of £58m are currently in the works - although a planning application has not yet been submitted. It is thought this will replace the existing multi-storey staff car park next to A&E.

There would be replacement parking provision, it has been said previously.

Within the submitted planning documents for the 72-bed ward it said the scheme is 'supported by £10m of funding from the Department of Health and Social Care'.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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