MAJOR plans to move and expand the county’s A&E department could be hit by a delay.

The multi-million-pound work would see the relocation of the A&E department at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester and the creation of a new ‘emergency village’ on the site.

Worcester City Council approved the plans in September but a resubmitted proposal by hospital bosses said the decision is under judicial review.

The review has been blamed on a 'procedural error' in which the council's decision was taken under delegated powers - when this wasn't allowed. 

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Worcestershire Royal Hospital, said it has put the plans forward again to be 'formally reconsidered' in a bid to avoid any further delays to the work.

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We have been notified by the council that due to a procedural issue our application for planning permission has to be formally reconsidered by the planning committee. We remain focussed on delivering this important development for the benefit of our patients and our staff.”

What is a judicial review?

Judicial review is a kind of court case, in which someone challenges the lawfulness of a government or public body decision.

The decision could be declared unlawful – or quashed – by the courts which may mean a decision has to be made by council planners again.

The application said: “The planning permission has been made the subject of a claim for judicial review [because] the council failed to impose a noise condition in respect of the permission; and the decision was ultra vires (beyond their power), on the basis that the decision was contrary to the council’s scheme of delegation.

“It is understood that the claim for judicial review is not to be resisted by the council but remains at present at an early stage in its process through the planning court. It is likely to be several months before the litigation is concluded.

“As such, in order to avoid potential delay in progressing this very important NHS project as a result of the claim for judicial review, a further application for planning permission for the same development as approved on September 13 is being made.”

What are the plans?

The hospital expansion plans were drawn up after £15 million was made available to the hospital trust to deliver improvements in urgent care facilities in the city.

Drawings show a 971 square metre single-storey extension to the side of the hospital’s Aconbury East ward which will house its new urgent and emergency care facilities.

A dedicated children’s A&E department will also be built.

The hospital trust said it also plans to move its helipad to allow patients brought in by air ambulance to go straight into A&E rather than having to be transported by ambulance.

Mr Hopkins said: "The development of our new expanded and improved urgent and emergency care unit at Worcestershire Royal Hospital is continuing as planned, with the first patients due to be treated there by the end of 2022.

"The new unit is a crucial part of the work being done, in our Trust and across our local health and care system, to improve patient experience and outcomes, reduce waiting times and ensure that our patients get the right care in the right place at the right time."

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said: “We cannot comment on the judicial review as it an active legal process.

“The new application from Worcestershire Royal Hospital will be brought before the planning committee at the earliest opportunity.”