Plans for walkway to link city hospitals and save ambulances time

HOSPITAL PATIENTS could be transferred between Sheffield’s Weston Park and Jessop Wing hospitals via a new walkway as part of plans drawn up by health chiefs.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has submitted a planning application seeking permission to build a covered walkway which could be used by patients, staff and visitors.

Kirsten Major, deputy chief executive of the trust, said Weston Park patients currently had to be transferred to the Hallamshire Hospital by ambulance.

But if the walkway was built, Weston Park patients could use theatres at the Hallamshire, as there was already a walkway between there and the Jessop Wing.

She said: “The planning application for a covered link walkway is in response to both patient and staff feedback about the challenges of transferring patients from Weston Park to the Jessop Wing.

“With an ageing population more and more of our patients are living with multiple health conditions and so patients in Weston Park will often need the services, diagnostic facilities or specialist teams located in the Hallamshire as well as cancer care.

“Currently we have to use ambulances to transfer patients the short distance because there is no direct link between the hospitals. This takes up an important resource and can add a delay in any transfer or care needed.

“The proposed covered link walkway would mean we can transfer patients really quickly, safely and comfortably. It would also enable staff to move between the two hospitals even more quickly to provide care when it is needed, especially when this is an urgent situation.”