Directors of Holbeach Hospital are hopeful of securing a second planning consent to increase its beds by a total 50 per cent and potentially create around 20 new caring roles.
A few weeks ago, the hospital, which has a focus on nursing, residential and end-of-life care, got consent for an eight-bed expansion. Plans now awaiting determination are for an additional five beds and three further beds would be created in works that don’t require planning consent, at the Boston Road North facility.
Hospital manager Maxine Winch estimated the delivery of both plans could lead to the creation of around 20 jobs.
Chris Penney, chairman of Holbeach and East Elloe Hospital Trust, said: “We have already got a waiting list which is ever growing.
“We have just renewed our NHS contract for six palliative care beds. We just have more people who need our facilities than we can currently cope with.
“Twenty seven years ago when we started it was to serve local people and that is what we are still about.
“We are trying to secure the long-term future of the operation. We need to increase revenue against cost base and this is a way to do it.”
Mr Penney said the plan is to deliver the beds that are subject of this latest planning application first, as they, plus the three that do not need consent, can be delivered for around £300,000. The plan already approved is expected to cost £600,000 to £700,000 to deliver.
Mr Penney said the hope would be to have the first eight additional beds available by next March and for work to begin on the others next summer.
The hospital was NHS-run and due for closure 27 years ago when trustees stepped in to take it over as a charity. Some clinics still run out of it.
It relies on the support of fundraisers to survive.
- Holbeach Hospital Summer Fayre, open to all, will be held on Sunday, July 2, from 1pm-5pm. There will stalls, music and refreshments and a 1950s/60s rock and roll theme.
