May 20, 2019 12.20 pm This story is over 58 months old

Lincoln Hospital MRI unit expansion approved

It will help with extra demand
Lincoln County Hospital. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A plan to extend the MRI department at Lincoln County Hospital in an effort to cope with demand has been given the go-ahead.

City of Lincoln Council has approved the proposal which was submitted by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust back in March.

The plan includes a single storey extension to help provide extra room and facilities, including another MRI scanner.

Bosses at the trust said the proposal will help to improve cancer care across the organisation.

The MRI unit site at Lincoln County Hospital which is set to be extended.

A ULHT spokesperson said: “The project is still in its very early stages and full costs are yet to be finalised and agreed.

“A second scanner would allow faster access to MRI for all our patients and help improve cancer treatment across the trust.

“It would bring state-of-the-art imaging techniques and cardiac MRI to Lincoln County Hospital.”

In its plans, ULHT said the extra space will help to “address the increasing demand upon the service”.

Site layout for the proposed extension of MRI unit.

The trust has faced increased pressure at its hospital sites.

Further demand on Boston Pilgrim Hospital’s A&E has led ULHT to look for further funding for an expansion of the unit.

Health bosses are looking to create extra space at the department in order to cope and are in talks with NHS England over a possible capital bid.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission said the unit was suffering from “significant overcrowding”.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from our coverage every week and insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.