The much-criticised £132 million Great Western Hospital will not have enough beds to cope with the projected numbers of patients, according to its chief executive.
With just two months to go until the GWH's completion, Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust has unveiled plans to move about 100 administration staff into temporary accommodation to make way for more wards.
And the trust is also discussing plans to build a further extension on adjoining land to the east of the hospital site at Commonhead, in addition to the 60-bed rehabilitation unit.
Chief executive Sonia Mills outlined the plans in her report to the trust board, which is due to meet tomorrow.
The report states: "We are now actively working to convert the office accommodation in the new building to ward space, which would become effective in October 2003 and thereby give us further capacity for that winter.
"This is, of course, disappointing to a number of staff who were anticipating moving to the accommodation planned for them in the new building."
The fitting out of the new ward areas will obviously incur further expense, although this is likely to be shouldered by the Strategic Health Authority. The move is sure to inflame critics of the original plan who have long argued that GWH would not be able to cope with Swindon's expected population explosion.
The present population of the town is about 153,000 and is set to break the 200,000 mark by 2008.
Councillor Dr Owen Lister (Conservative, Abbey Meads), a former GP, has always maintained that the GWH's 551 beds were not sufficient.
He said: "I hate to say I told you so, but it does seem like that doesn't it?
"I have to say I am delighted that they have taken this action. The lack of available bed spaces is something that I and many others have been concerned about for a long time now."
Partially funded through private finance, the new hospital will have a capacity of 464 inpatient beds and 87-day case beds when it opens in November.
It will have 19 per cent more clinical floor space than Princess Margaret Hospital and will be supported by a 60-bed rehabilitation unit.
Article taken from Evening Advertiser 26/09/02
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Councillor Dr Owen Lister was also interviewed and appeared on BBC Local News & BBC Radio Wiltshire to discuss the current situation with bed spaces in the hospital.