£28m Oldham hospital extension given the go-ahead to address bed shortage

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. That earlier project was also for a four-storey extension which would provide a 24-bed general surgery ward and a new emergency theatre.

The 4B building will be located north of the previously approved extension to which it will connected to internally as well as the main hospital building.

The current Cafe Royal and J-Block would demolished to make way for the new development which would provide new in-patient beds and 24 new beds in a crucial care unit, and also space for relocated endoscopy provision.

David Jago, chief officer at the hospital, said it would make a ‘significant contribution’ to improving healthcare services for residents of Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and North Manchester. “The proposed extension is critical to replace outdated facilities, accommodate high levels of demand for specialist care and enhance the viability of hospital services,” he added.

“Phase 4B will look to address a lack of general and acute beds throughout the Royal Oldham site and the impact this capacity deficit has on the performance of services on this site.

“And it will ensure that the Royal Oldham Hospital has the strategic transition to become a high-acuity surgical hub for Greater Manchester and the estate needs to reflect that ambition.

“This facility will absolutely support our ambition to drive out those inequalities for our residents in Oldham.”

He also told councillors that the hospital is now running a campaign asking non-clinical staff to work from home a day a week or use public transport to reduce the impact of parking on the local road network around the hospital.

Coldhurst ward Councillor Ruji Surjan said: “I welcome the development and I think it’s a huge investment which will be good not just for residents of this ward but across the borough.

“Hopefully this can become a flagship hospital.” 

Planning officer Martyn Leigh told the meeting that the development would support the ‘health and wellbeing’ of Oldham residents.

Committee chair Coun Peter Dean added: “In general I think everybody really welcomes this because it’s extra capacity which we haven’t had for some time.”

The plans were approved unanimously by councillors.