Decision time on hospital's £30m revamp plan for A&E

The Brighton and Hove University Hospital Trust (BSUH) which runs the hospital, describes the conditions of the unit as ‘cramped and outdated’ and said it is not suitable to meet current demand.

It said the working environment is ‘unpleasant for patients, family or friends as well as staff’.

The new building is set to increase capacity, and would be made up of three-storeys; two would accommodate clinical support and patient areas, with the top floor taken up by a plant room.

The upgraded unit would mean ‘a faster transition of patients through A&E’, the hospital trust said.

There would be 70 beds in the short stay wards providing care for patients admitted to the hospital, away from ‘the busy A&E areas’.

It also said the ‘central spine’ of the building would be used for clinical support, with the perimeter of the building for patient bedrooms which will benefit from natural sunlight.

The steel frame structure making up the new building would be made off-site, to ensure ambulance bays and drop off zones are accessible throughout construction. If planning permission is approved, work would take up to two years.

A report last month by the health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC), highlighted the need for an A&E upgrade.Inspectors rated the emergency department at the Royal Sussex as ‘requires improvement’, and said: “The environment was not fit for purpose as it did not have the physical capacity to meet demand.”

A design statement to planners said: “The current hospital is operating from old and inflexible premises that do not reflect the current models of clinical care and are not able to adapt to meet current standards.

“The proposal makes a positive contribution to the local environment, improves the main access to the Emergency Department and provide standard healthcare standards for all building users.”

The proposals will go before Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee, which meets next Wednesday from 12pm at Hove Town Hall.

The hospital is also undergoing a £468 million redevelopment; in which all the buildings on the front of the main hospital site will be replaced. Find out more, here.