New Cross Hospital building extra theatres

Two new operating theatres costing more than £3 million are to be built at New Cross Hospital, it was revealed this afternoon.

The project was announced as part of a bid to tackle a "significant" increase in pre-planned and emergency surgery.

The move will see more cancer patients currently treated at hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford accepted by New Cross following an agreement with the Greater Midlands Cancer Network. It will also include the creation of a recovery unit.

Five options for increasing theatre capacity were presented to a meeting of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Hospitals Trust today, including extending operating sessions from two to three per day.

This was dismissed by chief executive David Loughton as it may mean patients being operated on at inconvenient times.

Members favoured an option to build two new theatres. Mr Loughton said: "We will go to tender on the scheme and come back at next month's board meeting."