East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust has submitted a planning application for a new and improved main entrance as an extension to the Lister Hospital.

Potential plans for the extension, which would provide a new main entrance for the hospital, are being developed to see what is possible.

A trust spokesman said: “Coming into a hospital as a patient, carer, or visitor can be an uncomfortable and worrying time.

“We want to make sure that everyone that comes through our doors feels welcome as soon as they walk in – and that there are retail offers for our patients, visitors, and staff on our site.

“We are as always looking at how we can get best value for everything we do, so we have a team exploring what a new entrance might look like, managed by a company specialising in hospital entrance and retail spaces – which would mean that the potential new and improved entrance would be self funding.”