Planners have given the go ahead for a major redevelopment of a ‘hospital hotel’ near Derriford which has provided accommodation for patients, carers, relatives and health workers for 20 years.
The hotel, operated by the Hearts Together charity, accommodates around 7,500 guest stays every year – and demand for its services has grown rapidly in recent years.
Hearts Together is located in Blunts Lane, just a few minutes away from Derriford Hospital, Nuffield Hospital and the Hyperbaric Treatment Centre.
It currently offers a range of 27 en-suite single, twin and family bedrooms at affordable prices.
Approval has now been given for the replacement of the single storey ‘lodge’ with the construction of two linked buildings – one four storey and the other three storey – which will provide a total of more than 70 bedrooms and apartments. The development will also include a restaurant, breakfast room, meeting rooms, gym and roof terraces.
A new vehicular access will be included, with the existing entrance providing access for service vehicles. A total of more than 50 car park spaces will be created.
Architects Harrison Sutton Partnership’s design and access document submitted to the planners on behalf of Hearts Together stated:
“Having provided accommodation for patients, carers, relatives and healthcare professions for almost 20 years we have reached the point whereby our existing provision is no longer able to meet the needs of the ever-increasing volumes of patients, relatives and carers attending Derriford Hospital to receive their treatment and care.
“Market research undertaken by Hearts Together has identified a growing demand for more accommodation with the expansion looking to cater for the wide range of current needs as well as future-proofing what may come next.
“The expansion provides flexibility to respond quickly to changing needs and to safeguard our charity’s continued existence,” the report continues.
An example of the needs the charity has identified is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit which requires eight bedrooms for their families but also the option to have two-bedroom apartments and spaces for new parent classes to take place.
Another example is a leukaemia charity who would like to have access to two ground floor two bedroomed apartments with parking on the same level and a quiet space for patients receiving cancer treatments.
“The proposed expansion also responds to the needs identified by our existing service guests who have asked for more comprehensive catering options including fully fitted kitchens and also a restaurant and catering facility.
“This is particularly important for guests who are staying alone who have recently been discharged from hospital and are too unwell to fully care for themselves as they might do ordinarily.”
The vision of creating a hospital hotel which would support patients receiving treatment at Derriford, was the dream of Monica Pearce first suggested back in 1993.
Monica was determined to bring a cardiac surgery unit to the South West following her own treatment in London. In the early 1990s Monica, along with her other campaigners, delivered a petition of 195,000 names to Downing Street. In May 1994, the House of Commons announced that a cardiac unit would be set-up at Derriford.
Following this, in the late 1990s an appeal was launched to raise enough funds to build carers accommodation near the hospital, and after years of fundraising and gathering grants, Hearts Together Hospital Hotel (previously known as HeartSWell Lodge), opened its doors in August 2001.
