An artist’s impression of the new operating theatres

Thousands more operations will take place each year when a new Planned Care Hub opens at Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford this summer.

The new facility, designed by AHR Architects, will consist of four modern operating theatres and additional recovery beds and will enable more than 3,500 additional day case procedures to be undertaken every year.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) secured a £24m investment to build the hub as part of its plans to improve care.

Construction work is continuing on the new two-storey hub which will support patients across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales to receive high-quality elective care all year round.

And patients will benefit from much-shorter waiting times and an improved, high-quality healthcare environment in which to receive their care.

The unit will include a recovery area

The hub will support day case procedures across a range of specialities including ear, nose and throat, maxillofacial, gynaecology, breast, orthopaedics, and general surgery.

Building work has taken longer than expected due to complex estates issues discovered during construction, with the first operations due to take place in June.

Dr Steve McKew, medical director for surgery, anaesthetics, and cancer, said: “The new hub is really starting to take shape, which is exciting for our patients and our staff.

“We are looking forward to opening the hub in June and welcoming our first patients. It will enable us to provide more operations each year for patients requiring a day case procedure.”

PRH has already benefited from an upgraded main entrance and reception area, with improved retail and restaurant facilities, enhancing patient and colleague experience.

The development complements the Hospitals Transformation Programme (HTP) which will see PRH specialising in planned care for patients of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and mid Wales.