Plans for new high-spec operating theatres at birthplace of NHS

Plans to expand Trafford General Hospital - the birthplace of the NHS in 1948 - with two new operating theatres have been submitted. The two-storey extension includes the theatres, two anaesthetic rooms, two preparation rooms, two scrub bays and two ‘dirty utility rooms’.

A design and access statement submitted on behalf of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) says the hospital has been undergoing several improvements to its facilities and ‘is planning to continue this trend’. The plan is to ‘seize the potential’ of a courtyard area by creating a two-storey extension with an external rooftop to house the two operating theatres.

“The vision for this development stems from the trust’s desire to provide the best possible care for patients at the hospital,” the statement says. “By reconfiguring the current provision of operating theatres the trust will be able to provide more efficient and effective care through improved facilities.”

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Ultimately, the trust says, the hospital will be able to increase its operating capacity and house a variety of specialities focusing on orthopaedic surgery. “This would mean the creation of ultra-clean threatres requiring specialist ventilation strategies,” the statement says.

“The trust is also keen on creating these facilities efficiently, so care has been taken to keep the intervention to a minimum to conserve funds while delivering two high-spec theatres.” Trafford General Hospital opened in 1928 and was known as Park Hospital. It was used by the armed forces during World War Two as a military