THE opening of new operating theatres at Poole Hospital has been delayed by two months after asbestos was discovered during construction work.

University Hospitals Dorset started the major project earlier this year with the aim its new five-storey block be completed in 2023.

But the discovery of asbestos in the existing building has forced the trust to put work on hold – a move that is expected to cause a nine-week delay.

Full planning permission for the project was granted by BCP Council last year as part of a £150 million overhaul of NHS services in the county, despite attracting hundreds of objections.

The approved plans will see new operating theatres built on its Longfleet Road site, replacing the existing 1960s facilities and increasing the number of theatres to 15.

It is part of the transformation of the hospital into a regional “planned care” centre with Royal Bournemouth Hospital given an acute treatment focus.

In a letter submitted at the time, programme director Steve Killen, said the improvements would lead to better treatment for patients.

"The new operating theatres, referred to as barn theatres due to their flexibility and space, will allow trauma patients to be operated on in ultra-modern facilities which are safer and more efficient than the theatres in use today,” he said.

Construction started in January with the trust aiming for the whole project to be completed in 2023.

But a report published in the trust’s board papers said the discovery of asbestos in the existing building would delay this.

“Work on the Poole theatres has had to be temporarily paused as a consequence of asbestos

being discovered in the existing building,” the report by trust chief executive Debbie Fleming said. “Unfortunately, removing the asbestos will result in a delay of nine weeks to the overall theatres programme.”

At the same time, the number of people waiting more than a year for more routine treatment has risen to more than 5,000 with theatre staff among those who were called in to help deal with a surge in coronavirus patients at the start of the year.

This was further exacerbated by “many patients” choosing to delay visits during the pandemic.

Ms Fleming added, however, that work was now being started on the major redevelopment at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.