Hospital corridor replaced as part of endoscopy investment

Work has already begun to build a replacement corridor after a structural survey found the existing passageway to be “at risk of potential future collapse”.

The corridor, which has now been demolished, was not being used by staff and patients while in that condition.

The work is part of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals’ £6m investment in endoscopy care and was demolished as part of that project.

A planning application to replace the former inpatient corridor which links the main hospital with the endoscopy department has been submitted to Blackpool Council.

Documents submitted with the application warn the former corridor was “in an extremely poor state of condition and has been condemned by the project structural engineer as being at risk of potential future collapse”.

Timber was rotten and “the single glazing along the full length of the corridor is also at risk of falling out of the frames”.

The application adds: “This exposure along with a lack of existing insulation, means the existing corridor falls well short of meeting the needs of the Trust in terms of patient safety and thermal performance.

“The new corridor will provide a safe route for inpatients to travel to the Endoscopy unit from the main hospital street with significantly improved security and thermal performance as part of a robust modern construction.”

Investment will also improve patient flow around the department and provide additional facilities including a small office and storage room and a new interview / family room.