St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has received planning consent from Wandsworth Council for the development of one of the country’s largest renal units.

The plans will bring together specialist inpatient kidney care from across St Helier Hospital in Sutton and St George’s Hospital in Tooting while strengthening outpatient services in local hospitals, clinics, and at home, where 95% of patients will continue to receive care and treatment.

Building the new unit, and freeing up space at St Helier, will help pave the way for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh) to deliver on plans to build a new Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Sutton and modernise Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, part of the government’s New Hospital Programme.

The new six-storey kidney unit will deliver high-quality inpatient, outpatient, and dialysis facilities. This will include inpatient services for people on long-term dialysis, and more-complex care for individuals needing specialist surgery such as a kidney transplant.

It has been designed following extensive engagement with patients and staff.

Dr James Marsh, group deputy chief executive and renal consultant at gesh, said: “Reaching this milestone is a huge achievement and means we’re a big step closer to transforming the care we provide to our kidney patients.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring together the best of our two excellent renal services in a state-of-the-art, purpose-built renal hospital at St George’s – and we’re ready to press forward and deliver on our plans.”

About the project

The new renal building will provide:

• A building of the highest environmental standards

• 81 beds, including enhanced care and daycare beds

• 72% single rooms with ensuite bathrooms

• 24 acute dialysis stations including eight single rooms

• Landscaped gardens, including spaces for people with reduced mobility

• Dedicated ambulance parking bays,

• Closely-located blue badge parking spaces and drop-off spaces

New footpaths and a widened pedestrian entrance will also be built, as well as curative spaces for public, patients, and staff.

The purpose-built, modern healthcare facility will be designed to offer better experiences for patients and staff, with better access to other specialist services.

And the building will enable enhancements to be made to the main entrance and accessibility to St George’s from Blackshaw Road, leading up to the renal unit, ITU, and Atkinson Morley Wing.