New private hospital earmarked for Kettering site

A business park on the edge of Kettering could soon be home to a new day-case private hospital.

Huge plans have been unveiled by applicants WW Medical Facilities Ltd for the site at North Kettering Business Park, near the hamburger roundabout, in a move which could create 110 highly-skilled jobs.

The new health centre would be used for a "vital" extension of services provided by Woodland Hospital, just off Junction 6 of the A14 between Kettering and Rothwell, which has reached capacity.

Under the plans the new satellite private hospital site would be used for minor operations and procedures, ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat therapies, maxillofacial, urology, pain management and gynaecology and diagnostic services.

The existing 35-room Woodland Hospital would then be used for more complex surgery procedures.

A planning statement said: "Due to increased demand and lack of capacity in the area, this investment is seen as being important and intrinsic to reducing the continued increase in patient waiting times and deferred treatment and diagnostic services in the community."

If approved the new two-storey hospital site, on land between Glendon Road and and Glendon Lodge Farm, will include an MRI and CT scanner, theatre suite, outpatients suite and more.

There would be a 24-hour central sterile services department - which will process the cleaning and sterilisation of reusable medical equipment for the hospital - on its first floor.

A planning statement added that the new site would reduce delays to elective surgery, avoidable admissions and delayed transfers of care, as well as reducing "fundamental" pressures on the local healthcare system.

Nationally, the number of patients awaiting treatment hit a record high of 4.46 million in November 2020.

The statement added: "Covid-19 continues to have a severe effect on planned surgery in the UK and dealing with the resulting backlog is a critical concern for the national and local health communities."

The medical facility is expected to be open from 8am to 9pm, seven days a week and will be operated by a private medical provider.

Plans say the hospital operator will provide elective NHS, self-pay and insured contracted treatment as well as surgical, diagnostic and rehabilitation services. The site will have parking space for about 100 cars.

The applicants ruled out building the new hospital facility at the town's Hanwood Park development or a site by the town's Tesco Extra.

The plans will be considered by the new North Northamptonshire Council, with a target decision date of June 24.