A £6million expansion plan for Woking Community Hospital could put an end to patients having to wait outside for their appointment.

Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust submitted plans to the borough council that will today (Wednesday) – on the day of the NHS’ 75th anniversary – go out to consultation.

The trust hopes to build a new diagnostic centre at the Heathside Road site to accommodate an MRI suite, a CT scanner and new clinical areas for outpatients. 

The proposal will also host the mammography unit, currently disconnected from the main hospital building and situated within the car park.

Deputy leader of the council Will Forster, who was in Bournemouth for the local government conference, said: “Plans to expand Woking Community Hospital are well under way. It’s vital we have more health facilities in Woking, rather than forcing people to travel outside of the borough for basic services.”

He added the council and the NHS were “working in partnership" for the benefit of residents, adding: “These plans represent a £6 million investment and will prevent the need for around 30,000 hospital visits per year outside of Woking.”

Cllr Forster said it comes on the heels of a motion he filed to council last year and passed in February calling on greater partnership to bring health facilities to Woking.  

If approved, those who currently have to leave the borough and travel to Ashford, Chertsey or Guildford to be diagnosed will be able to do so in Woking.

The trust also hopes to offer cardiac, respiratory and sleep studies testing services from the extended hospital.

The new ground floor would feature the main entrance, reception and a waiting area that lead into three ultrasound rooms, two cannulation and two consent rooms, together with office, changing, utility, toilets and additional waiting waiting areas. 

According to the the design documents submitted to the council, the goals of the extension are to create a new diagnostic unit to cater for the increased demand in out-patient services, solve access issues to the building and its parking, and improve its appearance.

The neighbourhood consultation into the plans launched today with the council aiming to make its decision on the plans next month.