New Eastbourne DGH in-patient ward given thumbs up

On Tuesday (October 20), Eastbourne Borough Council approved proposals to erect a 105-bed modular ward building at Eastbourne District General Hospital in Kings Drive.

According to planners, the new temporary ward is required as part of the “pan-Sussex” planning for the second wave of coronavirus infections. 

It would also provide space to place patients during works on the main hospital building, which are expected following recent funding announcements, planning officers said. 

Cllr Robin Maxted (Lib Dem, Upperton) said: “I was interested to hear it was a temporary building. In my mind, whether it is temporary or permanent, I don’t have a problem with it.  

“Obviously it is going to be essential for the decanting of wards while the DGH is being upgraded into a new hospital so it has my full support.

“Also it is very good quality accommodation for patients at the hospital. It is single, double and a few four-bedded rooms. That does afford much better privacy for people, over and above the old wards in hospitals.”

Following a short discussion, the scheme was unanimously approved by the committee.

For further details of the scheme, see application reference 200179 on the Eastbourne Borough Council planning website. 

The decision follows news that the DGH is to receive funding from the second phase of the government’s £3.7 billion Health Infrastructure Plan.

The funding has been set aside to build or modernise 40 hospitals around the country.