Plans approved for £7.5m patient discharge centre at infirmary

PLANS: An artist’s impression of the new building

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Planning permission has been granted for a new, purpose-built £7.5m care co-ordination centre at the heart of the Hull Royal Infirmary site.

The main aim of the centre is to free up space within the tower block to create more acute clinical areas, helping to reduce waiting times and improve patient care.

The ground floor of the new building will be home to a bespoke patient discharge lounge, providing a modern, comfortable space for patients who are medically fit to wait in until everything is in place to allow them to go home.

This can be anything from a package of care in the community to medication, transport, or a place with another care provider.

Jenn Orton, director of operational transformation, said: “While discharge lounges as a concept are nothing new, having this purpose-built space on the site will also make a significant difference to how we can deliver care at Hull Royal.

“Being able to move medically fit patients into these areas frees up beds on our acute wards for patients in greater need of care. However, the existing discharge lounges on the site were not only in need of renovation but were also housed in spaces we felt could be put to better use for acute patient care.

“What this new building will allow us to do is provide a more suitable, modern area for the discharge lounge – with the added benefit of being co-located the team co-ordinating this activity – and refurbish other areas within the main tower block to be used for acute patient care.”

The second floor the building will be used to provide non-clinical office areas, freeing up space in the tower block for patient care.

Another development is on the first floor of the new centre, which will provide a hub for our care co-ordination and discharge teams to work more closely together.

Jenn said: “By bringing these teams together in one space, it will help us to improve the planning and management of operational demand across all our sites. It will strengthen team working across all aspects of the discharge process and enhance shared communication and break down barriers." 

Construction of the new Lansdowne building is due to start next month and be completed in autumn 2027.