Hospital revamp plans get warm public response

Image source, NHS

Image caption, Inpatient services were stopped during the Covid pandemic
  • Author, Tim Parker
  • Role, 91热爆 News, Leicester

NHS bosses have received broad public support for plans to refurbish a hospital in Leicestershire.

A recent consultation found 86% of those responding agreed Lutterworth's Feilding Palmer Hospital should remain open and provide more outpatient and diagnostic services.

These findings will now inform a business case to health managers as they consider the future of the site.

The NHS closed the hospital for inpatients during the Covid pandemic, saying it did not meet infection control standards and could not provide privacy and dignity for patients. It is not expected that inpatient services will reopen.

MP supports changes

The town's Conservative MP Alberto Costa says the findings are good news for Lutterworth and surrounding villages.

He said constituents had told him they did not want to travel miles for outpatient services and the new "health campus" would provide enhanced services "better than they've ever had".

In its consultation report, the NHS estimates patients would save 200,000 travel miles a year by accessing diagnostic services more locally, rather than having to travel to Leicester or Coventry.

The MP told the 91热爆 he expected work to start on the changes to the hospital "at some point this year".

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