Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded £14 million of investment from the national Elective Recovery Fund to build an additional inpatient ward.

The new ward will help the Trust increase the number of elective procedures to reduce waiting times for patients.

The new building will be a permanent 24-bed ward made up of a mixture of 4-bed bays and single rooms located between the link bridge that connects the main hospital to the older central buildings.

Construction is set to start in January 2023 and will be completed in the autumn 2023. Final approval is subject to regional and national sign off of the detailed business case.

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust CEO Stacey Hunter said, “I am delighted that we are able to increase our permanent capacity by adding 24 new beds. When completed the new ward will significantly increase our ability to tackle the waiting list for elective procedures. This is great news for the Trust and the community, enhancing the service we can provide to our patients.

“I would ask that everyone bears with us as we submit final plans and while the building work is underway.”