A HOSPITAL looks set to expand in Colchester to accommodate more patients under new plans.

Bosses at The Oaks Hospital want to create a new theatre and a new MRI extension at the site in Oaks Place.

They hope it will allow for the privately-run hospital to take on more staff and treat more patients. The proposals have been submitted to Colchester Council.

A report said: “With the daycase unit expanding, and due to its success in building up business, there is a shortage of operating facilities.

“It is now essential to its healthcare service to the community that this is corrected by the provision of additional operating theatres to complement the existing three.

“The proposed theatre and its accompanying facilities must be planned to link in with the existing surgical facilities and the best operational location is where the existing admin portacabins are located as this location causes the least disruption to the existing operation of the hospital.

“The proposed additional operating theatre suite and the MRI extension will result in an increase in the number of hospital staff and outpatients.”

The Oaks Hospital opened in 1994 and is privately run by Ramsay Healthcare.

It provides a large range of services to patients, whether privately or if they are referred by the NHS.

The site currently has 57 bedrooms, three fully-equipped operating theatres, a day surgery unit for minor operations and an outpatients department for X-Ray, ultrasound and mammography.

While the hospital has a visiting MRI scanner, bosses said a permanent and fixed scanner would help the hospital and patients.

The Oaks is not the only hospital to reveal plans to expand.

Staff at Colchester General Hospital revealed last month it was planning on expanding its accident and emergency department following its planned merger with Ipswich Hospital.

It is part of £69 million of funding the Government is giving the two hospitals as part of its merger into the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Colchester Council will have the final say on the plans for The Oaks and is expected to make a decision by June 15.