Hospital unit to get £7 million extension

An ageing population and bowel screening requirements for the over-50s has driven the investment, which will see the facility more than doubled in size.

The multi-million pound redesign will include a £5 million transformation of the hospital’s west wing, to include single-sex recovery rooms, more treatment rooms and improved reception and waiting areas.

Medical director Dr George Findlay said: “Our major redesign and enlargement of the endoscopy department at Worthing Hospital is great news for patients, who will benefit from new single-sex recovery bays, as well as better reception and waiting areas.

“The capacity of the department will double, which means we will be able to offer more procedures to more patients, at a time when demand is set to increase dramatically.

“We will also offer patients procedures outside of normal working hours, providing care in the evening or at the weekend at a time that suits some patients better.”

Over the next five years, it is forecast demand for endoscopy procedures across the trust will rise to more than 28,000, up from the 17,820 procedures carried out in 2013/14.

The board has agreed full endoscopy units will be maintained at St Richard’s in Chichester and Worthing Hospital, to provide a range of inpatient and outpatient services at both hospitals.

More than £1.3 million will be invested in new medical equipment for the Worthing unit, with a further £512,000 earmarked for associated equipment.

This includes two new decontamination washers to expand the £1.7 million state-of-the-art decontamination facilities opened in 2010 at Worthing Hospital.

Work is scheduled to be completed by autumn 2015.

The League of Friends café and shop will be relocated to allow for the expansion of the new facility.

The investment decision was made at a board meeting on Thursday.