Hospital bosses have revealed plans to build a £25 million intensive care unit (ICU) to combat the increasing pressure on services.
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is looking to erect a state-of-the-art modular building with 15 beds at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford.
The scheme will see the ward relocated and expanded from 10 to 15 beds, allowing the current ICU to be repurposed for other bed space.
A spokesperson for the trust said the plans have been drawn up in response to the “increasing pressure” on its service and to meet future needs.
They added: “The new facility is designed to be future-proof, to support us in meeting the demands of a growing and ageing local population, with modern infrastructure that can better support both patients and staff.
“The redevelopment will allow for enhanced patient safety, improved clinical outcomes, better infection prevention and a more comfortable, efficient working environment for staff.”
The trust is now asking Dartford council to allocate £7 million of its community infrastructure levy (CIL) funding for the build.
CIL is a charge that the local authority imposes on new developments in the area, which can then be spent on infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, roads and green spaces.
The rest of the £24.9 million project will be paid for through NHS capital funding streams.
Cabinet members are due to discuss the trust’s bid at a meeting on Thursday (April 24), where officers have recommended they approve the request.
Their report said that hospital bosses have been planning the expansion since 2020, as at the time it was “marginally above capacity with a prediction that this would increase year on year”.
It explained that since the pandemic, the trust has had to manage a surge in requirements by using other facilities such as theatres for its patients.
Officers added: “The current lack of capacity has had an impact on the ability of the hospital to meet demand for other services, including in the area of elective surgery.
“The new ICU would free up facilities that are currently being used, allowing the hospital to expand its provision.
“The existing 10-bed unit, for example, will be utilised not only for expansion of elective surgery but also to provide a facility for escalation to meet surges in demand.
“The need for the new ICU has been established with the provision of evidence regarding the lack of current capacity and its impact on the ability of Darent Valley Hospital to meet other service demands.”
They also said the scheme will address the “historic underprovision of critical care beds” and “ensure the provision of adequate healthcare facilities for the expanding population” in Dartford.
There are ongoing housing developments immediately opposite the hospital at Knights Reach and nearby at the former Eastern Quarry in Ebbsfleet.
The report added: “Evidence has also been provided regarding the expected growth in the local population that will exacerbate the current situation should the new facility not be delivered.”
The trust aims to start the project this year, pending final agreements, and would complete it by mid-2027.
