A NEW cancer care unit could be opened at Springfield Hospital if plans are given the go-ahead.

Ramsay Healthcare UK, which runs the hospital, has submitted a planning application to Chelmsford City Council foraunit to be built on the hospital site in Lawn Lane, Springfield.

The unit will provide a new radiotherapy facility for the hospital, a dedicated waiting area with toilet facilities, consultation rooms, associated therapy rooms, utility rooms, staff changing and rest rooms and two radiotherapy bunkers at the rear with associated control and changing rooms on the ground floor.

A chemotherapy suite will be above this on the first floor.

Permission for an additional 16 parking spaces and two disabled spaces has also been applied for at Springfield Hospital, which is currently a 64-bed, privately-run hospital for private and NHS-referred patients.

Architects say the design of the proposed extension will be in keeping with the existing building where possible.

Access to the unit will be from the existing hospital departments via a ‘high-level corridor’.

This will be built over the access road via a bed lift into the first floor level of the unit and there will also be a covered walkway from the main hospital area.

The hospital currently offers services to acute surgical and medical patients and provides gynaecology, paediatric, spinal surgery, urology, endoscopy and orthopaedic services.

Ramsay Healthcare has proposed opening hours for the new unit of 8.30am to 6.30pm from Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on a Saturday.

The Weekly News revealed plans for another new cancer care unit at Baddow Hospital, submitted by Spire Healthcare, just before Christmas last year.