PLANS for the new £15m Endoscopy unit at the Cumberland Infirmary have been reassessed to increase its car parking offering. 

The state-of-the-art facility will be located in a section of the current visitor car park. 

The application submitted in December indicated that  21 parking spaces would be lost because of the development.

Plans are underway to replace the parking spaces taken by the new building which will improve and enlarge the current provision.

On completion, the project is now expected to add at least 30 new parking spaces onsite.

Under the new arrangements, the car park to the left of the main entrance will become a dedicated public car park.

Additionally, a staff-dedicated parking space offering over 55 slots will be established at the rear of the hospital.

Mr Daya Karat, consultant surgeon, said: “When it is up and running the new facility will have more clinic rooms that all meet modern standards. We will also be able to treat more patients so it will help reduce our waiting lists and improve timely diagnosis, particularly for cancers."

According to the trust, the main benefits of the unit are:

  • Patients will be able to access endoscopy faster - 99 per cent of patients will receive their diagnostic procedure within six weeks of referral in line with national standards;
  • The additional rooms will have capacity to provide a further 30 lists per week avoiding unnecessary travel outside of the region.