Plans for £37.9m expansion at Boston hospital approved

Plans to demolish buildings next to the existing emergency department at Boston Pilgrim Hospital, to more than double its size in a big £37.9 million transformation, have been approved by Boston Borough Council.

Funding for the transformation was announced back in August 2019 following a visit to Pilgrim Hospital by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He met staff at the hospital and announced funding of £21.3 million for the project.

Since then work took place behind the scenes to finalise the £37.9 million design, before plans were submitted to the council. The additional funding will be provided by NHSE&I and the Lincolnshire NHS system.

The plans will see the demolition of the existing (H block) building and the erection of a two-storey extension with a full refurbishment.

It will more than double in size and include state-of-the-art innovations and infection prevention control measures. It will also have more cubicles to treat patients and a bigger resuscitation zone for the sickest patients.

It will also include a separate area dedicated to providing emergency care for the hospital’s youngest patients and their families, and have more training rooms for staff.

Plans for a £37.9 million transformation at Boston Pilgrim Hospital have been approved. | Design: Boston Borough Council/ULHT

Andrew Morgan, Chief Executive for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The granting of planning permission by Boston Borough Council is a major milestone in the much-needed development of the Emergency Department at Pilgrim hospital.

“With planning permission in place, work has already begun to get final approval from the Department of Health and Social Care who pledged £21.3million towards the transformation during the visit by the Prime Minister in 2019. The additional funding will be provided by both NHSE&I and the Lincolnshire NHS system.

“None of this would have been possible without the support of our amazing colleagues and all of our partner organisations. By working together, we have an approved design which is going to give our patients and staff the first-class Emergency Department that they need and deserve for the future.”

Councillor Nigel Welton, Deputy Leader of Boston Borough Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning, said: “The transformation of Pilgrim Hospital’s Emergency Department cannot come soon enough, especially after the past two years.

“This will be a fantastic transformation for our Hospital and Town, that patients, staff and residents will be able to benefit from for many years to come”.