Colchester Hospital wing to be demolished for new surgery centre

Planning permission for works on Colchester Hospital’s Elmstead building, including the demolition of the existing endoscopy wing, is being sought in an application to Colchester Council.

The design and access statement says the works will serve the new elective orthopaedic centre which was approved by Colchester Council in 2021 and a new endoscopy unit will be built.

The application is also seeking permission for two new recovery bays, a new staff area, a new office and new link corridors to transport medical gasses and other services to the orthopaedic centre.

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A section of the statement read: “The demolition of the existing endoscopy wing of Elmstead is required for new vehicular access of the new EOCC building.

“These works are to re-provide accommodation lost in the demolition and a new service corridor that will provide the only route for medical gases and other ancillary services required to serve the new EOCC.”

A later section reads: “The endoscopy unit will be improved to provide a better patient experience and improved staff support facilities.”

The Elmstead building is also currently home to the hospital’s day surgery unit.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation,  which runs Colchester Hospital, stated this unit is set to move to the second floor of the Constable wing.

The elective orthopaedic centre, which will be used for patients having planned surgery on bones, joints and muscles, will provide 48-56 high-specification inpatient beds, up to six “state-of-the-art” operating theatres, improved capacity and facilities for orthopaedic trauma and a focus on joint replacement and revision work.

Delight - Dr Shane Gordon, director of strategy, research and innovation, Mr Mark Bowditch, divisional clinical director and orthopaedic surgeon, Dame Clare Marx, Nick Hulme, CEO of ESNEFT, and Mr Mark Loeffler, consultant orthopaedic surgeon (Image: Newsquest)

The the earlier statement on the trust’s website said £100m is being invested over five years to “change the face” of ESNEFT hospitals. 

In addition to the orthopaedic centre and moving the endoscopy and day surgery units, other projects include a new radiology and cardiac angiography unit and upgrades to emergency and urgent care areas.