First look at the new outpatients unit planned for West Cornwall Hospital
If the £9million facility at Penzance gets the go ahead, work could start next March
Last updated 22nd Aug 2021
Plans for a new £9 million outpatients unit at West Cornwall Hospital have been welcomed by local councillors and residents.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has launched a consultation about the plans ahead of submitting a planning application for the new extension at the Penzance hospital.
If approved, work could start on the new facilities in March, 20 years after thousands of people took to the streets of Penzance to march to save the hospital.
This week RCHT hosted a drop-in session at St John’s Hall in Penzance to explain the proposals and hear the views of locals, this was followed by an online Q&A.
Jim McKenna, Cornwall councillor for Penzance Promenade, helped host the events and said that there were many positive comments about the plans.
“The reaction has been very, very positive. It is the biggest investment we have had in 30 years in terms of the hospital.
“Without exception everyone was delighted that money was coming in and also people being treated locally. Two issues came up, one was that some people thought the design is a bit blocky and the second was about car parking.
“But nobody at all was anything other than positive about the investment and commitment which is being shown towards West Cornwall Hospital. It secures the future of the hospital that myself and others have been campaigning for forever".
Cllr McKenna said that he would be setting up a working group with West Cornwall Hospital, local GPs and residents to address some of the concerns including possible parking issues.
He explained that the new facility would provide enhanced facilities for the Urgent Treatment Centre at the hospital with more facilities and space. There will also be more diagnostic services on site and an improvement in IT services which would mean that patients would be able to have appointments at West Cornwall Hospital rather than going to Treliske.
In addition healthcare staff currently working at the Bellair clinic in the town would be based in the new centre.
Cllr McKenna said that if this happens he would like to see that site redeveloped to provide affordable rent housing for local people.
He said: “That is an aspiration, but it is in the hands of the NHS property services. From my perspective that is a great opportunity not just for the hospital but to use the land at Bellair to provide some homes for rent for local people. We have an absolute crisis in Penzance with the numbers of people and properties available to rent".
The independent councillor said that the consultation events had been successful and it was good to see local people giving their views on the plans.
Under the proposals a planning application would be submitted in September and work could start on site in March – the build would be completed by summer 2023.
Consultation about the plans is continuing with an online survey available to complete until Sunday August 22nd.
Find out more and complete the survey.