A temporary paediatric assessment unit built at Warwick Hospital during the pandemic could become a permanent feature if plans are approved by Warwick District Council.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has applied to keep the portacabin, which sits over 21 parking spaces in car park C, to help meet the rising demand for space at the hospital.

The unit was built during the pandemic under permitted development rights "to provide an immediate response to coronavirus".

The portacabin houses consultation and treatment rooms, storage and a staff room.

The planning application submitted to WDC said: "The clinical teams at the Warwick Hospital struggle to accommodate the increasing number of patients due to the buildings and facilities being at capacity. 

"The number, size, design and configuration of rooms, corridors and waiting areas, means staff are regularly unable to find a suitable room to accommodate a service, medical and nursing, or a patient with specific needs, for example a wheelchair user."

It added: "This development at Warwick Hospital forms part of the ongoing improvements to the hospital to help facilitate the future growth and redevelopment of the site to help provide opportunity to improve services and facilities and create a more sustainable hospital to the advantage of the local community."

The trust already has an estates strategy in place and held public information events on its plans for the next ten to 15 years in 2021.

But the application said making the temporary unit permanent was still needed.

"The principle of this development is to retain the as built PAU unit to allow for the assessment of pre-operative patients for the benefit of the wider Warwick community," it said.

The trust has also applied to make a temporary linen unit permanent.

See the application in full here.