A new theatre for eye operations at the Isle of Wight’s only hospital is getting closer to opening, but planning permission is only just being sought for the new building despite work having got underway back in January.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust says the new theatre will make a ‘big difference’ to the care it can provide to the Island and means 40% more cataract operations can be carried out each year, with a 20% increase to the capacity of the day surgery.
The specially designed, modular operating theatre and 6-bed recovery ward unit were installed earlier this year opposite the maternity ward at St Mary’s Hospital, with work having begun on 4th January. However, planning permission for the new state-of-the-art ophthalmic suite with an eye clinic and theatre, which will reduce waiting times for people and improve flexibility, has only just been requested from the Isle of Wight Council.
Work to bring the building into operational use has not yet been completed.
Planning agents on behalf of the trust, ERMC, have said the theatre will help the Trust better support the medical needs of Island residents by providing modern and efficient clinical spaces, allowing them to address the long wait times and clear the backlog of procedures.
ERMC says the unit is on a fast-track supply timeline to ensure the hospital is operationally able to meet growing patient lists.
You can view the plans, 22/01331/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 19th September.
Surely if the buildings already there and just needs to be converted / updated to suit island needs why does the council have to get involved and give # permission , obviously building regs etc etc but council poking nose in where they know absolutely nothing about the technology etc etc
if it’s seen to be advantageous to islanders get on with it
Even our council, who allow the most hideous of buildings and allow vast swathes of beauty to be destroyed, not for a while, but forever, cannot possibly refuse this, even without any thankyou card from the non pal, developer
This beggars belief. How can a large contingent of “so-called” highly-paid managers, consultants and project specialists commence building something 8 months prior to seeking planning permission? If they can’t get the simplest things right, no wonder they manage our NHS so badly.
Since it’s an existing building with no change of use, perhaps they imagined reasonably that there would be no need for PP, until some numpty in IW council popped up and said otherwise?
Not an existing building, a prefab shipped in via Vestas wharf at Stag Lane, so permission needed if intended to be a fixed rather than temporary building
Nothing to do with numpties, IT IS PLANNING LAW.
They assumed. Loads of assumptions going on St Marys.
That’s great I will keep an eye out for it and just about blinking time ,
Please no lashing out at me
Knowing the perverse nature of this council they will kick their toys out of the pram and refuse permission.
Sounds as though this is a just a paper exercise to me. Perhaps some things shouldn’t be reported there is enough angst and frustration with the general public at best of times due to poor communication and response.
It’s an amazing new facility with fantastic staff – had my Cataract op there on Wednesday – so a massive thumbs up from me! Understand its been functioning for about 6 weeks! An ab fab addition to St Mary’s will be such a huge asset to patients and staff. We’ll done.
Why would it need planning permission, it’s not affecting neighbors, highway, views, wildlife traffic etc just a way council can take from NHS. What council does need to give permission for is increased parking at StMarys, instead of keep refusing. They don’t get how much anxiety and stress caused when late for appt or visit sick relatives etc.
They need planning permission to stop the great unwashed from moving in and squating,
and it won’t be fair for the rest of us, as they will always be first in the line.