The new £17m Altrincham Hospital is to be a home for state-of-the-art hearing services in what has been described as a “significant benefit” for local patients.
The new hospital is currently under construction on Railway Street in the town centre and is due to open in the spring.
The four-storey development will replace the current Victorian-era Altrincham Hospital on Market Street, with all services currently available at the existing hospital transferring to the new building,
This exciting development means that we will be able to see patients of all ages more quickly
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And the audiology service will be one that is significantly improved, with opening hours extended from 8am to 6pm, waiting times reduced to under 20 days for all new assessments, child-friendly test booths and free digital hearing aids using the latest open fit technology.
Existing hearing aid patients will also be given a reassessment appointment, while other enhancements include a specialist tinnitus clinic, a complex hearing needs clinic and more treatment space for adults and children.
Dr Greg Nassar, head of audiology services for Trafford Hospitals, said: “This exciting development means that we will be able to see patients of all ages more quickly and offer an extended service with the latest test equipment.
“The service will gain an extra clinic/treatment room which means that more patients can be seen and treated and that both adults and children will wait less time for their appointments.
“It will be a significant benefit for patients who live in the Altrincham area.”
The new audiology department adds to a wide range of services at the new landmark hospital, with the full list now including:
- Audiology
- Dermatology (skin complaints)
- Diabetes
- Dietetics
- Elderly Medicine
- ENT (ear, nose and throat) – expanded service
- Gynaecology (female reproductive health)
- Minor injuries unit, nurse-led
- Ophthalmology (eye conditions) – expanded service
- Orthopaedics (bones/joints)
- Pain management
- Phlebotomy (blood tests)
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry (foot care)
- Radiology – X-ray and ultrasound
- Renal dialysis – new service
- Respiratory (chest conditions)
- Rheumatology (musculoskeletal conditions)
- Vascular (conditions relating to the blood vessels)
A key development will be the renal dialysis service, which will transfer from Wythenshawe Hospital, where it is currently provided.
The unit will occupy the whole of the second floor and features a home training facility to educate patients who are able to receive dialysis at home.
Two new wall-mounted X-ray machines, costing £350,000, will be installed in the new hospital development in adjacent rooms.
The new services will be provided by clinical experts from Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The layout of the new hospital will be as follows:
Ground floor
Main reception and waiting area
Outpatient consultation and treatment rooms
Radiology – X-ray and ultrasound
First floor
Reception and waiting area
Minor injuries unit (nurse-led)
Outpatient consultation and treatment rooms
Audiology & ENT
Phlebotomy – blood tests
Second floor
Renal dialysis unit (20 stations)
Home dialysis training unit (nine training places)
Third floor
Physiotherapy
Treatment area
Gymnasium
Fourth floor
Offices and staff changing facilities
Each floor will be colour-coded to help patients and visitors find their way around – we’ll be announcing more details of the interior design and colour schemes on Altrincham Today soon. Disabled parking will be available on the lower ground floor.
Beth Weston, director of Trafford Hospitals, said: “We are delighted that our plans to create a new state-of-the-art community hospital for Altrincham are coming to fruition.
“This development will be a major boost for local people and will provide them with modern, high quality healthcare facilities and an expanded range of clinical services.”
