HEALTH chiefs have applied to expand the city's hospital and increase the number of beds available.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital is set to gain 81 extra beds and 141 car parking spaces, under the plans.

Bosses hope to house the new beds in the hospital's Aconbury East building and construct a footbridge to connect it with the main hospital.

The expansion is expected to reduce pressure on the accident and emergency department and will be funded by a £29m cash injection from the Government.

Worcester City Council will now decide whether to sign off on the plans for the hospital, in Charles Hastings Way, Worcester.

Michelle McKay, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “A number of enabling works now need to be carried out in order for us to be able to deliver the proposed clinical model.

"These include 81 additional beds, a high dependency unit and the creation of 141 new car parking spaces at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

"An outline business case, which forms the basis for a bid for £29.6m of capital funding from the Department of Health to pay for enabling works, has been finalised and will be put forward for consideration during the summer months."

The new clinical model is based on the transfer of maternity and paediatric services from Redditch to Worcester.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust wants to build a high dependency unit in the Aconbury East building, to provide care for patients who are seriously ill.

The Trust also plans to refurbish the building to modern standards, revamp the exterior and build a bridge to connect the second floor of the building with the main hospital.

Staff will be able to move beds over the bridge and gain access to the hospital's theatres and wards.

There will also be car parking spaces and a raised helipad constructed outside the hospital's oncology unit, if the plans get the green light.

The helipad will be raised to enable further parking spaces to be built underneath.