Latest news with #StuartBray
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Government urged to help save Hinckley hospital frontage
A council leader has written to the health secretary in a bid to preserve the historic frontage of a Hinckley NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board plans to demolish the Victorian frontage of Hinckley and District Hospital, in Mount Road, as part of its proposal to build a new £10.5m day case May, Stuart Bray, leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, expressed his "deep disappointment" but the board said it was unable to retain it due to clinical requirements of the Bray has asked Wes Streeting to extend the funding deadline to enable time to find a design solution with the board. The new medical facility is designed to deliver services including gynaecology, urology and plastic surgery and will be linked to the new community diagnostic centre at the site. In his letter to the health secretary, Bray said he "warmly" welcomed government investment for improved NHS facilities in the town following decades of campaigning, However he also highlighted that the hospital building's facade was part of the town's heritage and the demolition was causing concerns said he had met with the project team, who informed him any delay or changes to the proposed design would result in the funding being withdrawn."They tell me that your department has set a hard deadline of next spring for spending of the budget on this project," he said."I am therefore writing to ask you to consider asking your officials to work with myself, planning and conservation officers and the local community to look again at the design."At the very least I would ask for a commitment to ensure that the funding for the scheme is safeguarded to enable local discussions to proceed."Bray added he would be happy to discuss the matter with Streeting and invited him to visit Hinckley. 'Benefits outweigh loss' A planning application to demolish the entire hospital was submitted to the borough council in May.A spokesperson for the board said: "The option of retaining the Victorian frontage of the hospital unfortunately would have meant that the business care objectives and clinical requirements for the development of the new facilities would not be met. "The proposed materials do include reclaimed bricks from the current building and we consider that the heritage impact of the scheme will be outweighed by the benefits to the public."Hinckley and Bosworth MP Dr Luke Evans supported the plans, adding the current building was "no longer fit for purpose"."To ignore the realities facing us and request a delay at such a late stage in the process, after the NHS has put time and money into creating these plans, risks our community losing this funding and access to vital local healthcare services altogether," he response to Bray's letter, the Department of Health said: "We are pleased to be providing more than £7m for a day case unit in Hinckley which will greatly benefit patients and the community."The funding is due to be spent this financial year with delivery scheduled by February 2026."Any requests for further funding or to change or delay the scope of the project, would have to be made through the appropriate channels for consideration.A public consultation on the development ended on 13 June.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS urged to retain Victorian frontage at new centre
NHS health bosses have been urged to preserve the historic frontage of a Hinckley hospital in its proposal for a new £10.5m medical facility. The NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board plans to build the day case unit on the existing Hinckley and District Hospital, in Mount Road. The leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has now written a letter to the board expressing his "deep disappointment" the Victorian frontage will be demolished as part of the plans. The board said it was unable to retain the frontage due to clinical requirements of the development but planned to include some materials from the current building. The new facility is designed to deliver services including gynaecology, urology and plastic surgery and will be linked to the new community diagnostic centre at the site. A planning application to demolish the entire hospital was submitted to the borough council earlier this month. In his letter, council leader Stuart Bray said he "warmly" welcomed improved NHS facilities in the town following decades of campaigning but urged the board to "look at the plans again" and offered to hold discussions. He wrote: "Having now seen the plans for the new day care centre, I want to express my deep disappointment that they include the demolition of the Victorian cottage hospital which has stood on Mount Road for centuries and is part of my hometown's heritage. "I cannot believe it is not possible to retain the older parts of the frontage of the hospital and develop the new modern facilities that residents deserve, behind the Victorian facade. "Many people have contacted me to express concerns over your plan. I know these concerns will not be new to you as I believe such concerns were raised as part of the public consultation." In a statement the board said: "The option of retaining the Victorian frontage of the hospital unfortunately would have meant that the business care objectives and clinical requirements for the development of the new facilities would not be met. "The proposed materials do include reclaimed bricks from the current building and we consider that the heritage impact of the scheme will be outweighed by the benefits to the public. "We are also working with a local historian on plans to display images inside and outside of the new building, charting its long history." A public consultation period is under way on the council's website and will run until 13 June. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Plans submitted to create £10.5m medical unit Preparation work to begin for new hospital unit Go-ahead for multi-million pound diagnostic centre Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NHS urged to retain Victorian frontage at new centre in Hinckley
NHS health bosses have been urged to preserve the historic frontage of a Hinckley hospital in its proposal for a new £10.5m medical NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board plans to build the day case unit on the existing Hinckley and District Hospital, in Mount leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has now written a letter to the board expressing his "deep disappointment" the Victorian frontage will be demolished as part of the board said it was unable to retain the frontage due to clinical requirements of the development but planned to include some materials from the current building. The new facility is designed to deliver services including gynaecology, urology and plastic surgery and will be linked to the new community diagnostic centre at the site. A planning application to demolish the entire hospital was submitted to the borough council earlier this his letter, council leader Stuart Bray said he "warmly" welcomed improved NHS facilities in the town following decades of campaigning but urged the board to "look at the plans again" and offered to hold wrote: "Having now seen the plans for the new day care centre, I want to express my deep disappointment that they include the demolition of the Victorian cottage hospital which has stood on Mount Road for centuries and is part of my hometown's heritage."I cannot believe it is not possible to retain the older parts of the frontage of the hospital and develop the new modern facilities that residents deserve, behind the Victorian facade."Many people have contacted me to express concerns over your plan. I know these concerns will not be new to you as I believe such concerns were raised as part of the public consultation." 'Benefits outweigh concerns' In a statement the board said: "The option of retaining the Victorian frontage of the hospital unfortunately would have meant that the business care objectives and clinical requirements for the development of the new facilities would not be met."The proposed materials do include reclaimed bricks from the current building and we consider that the heritage impact of the scheme will be outweighed by the benefits to the public. "We are also working with a local historian on plans to display images inside and outside of the new building, charting its long history."A public consultation period is under way on the council's website and will run until 13 June.
