A HOSPITAL unit will be closing in Worcester to make way for a new MRI scanner and it will not reopen. 

Worcestershire Royal Hospital has confirmed that the current Pathway Discharge Unit will close at the end of summer this year. 

The hospital sites improved patient flow and partnerships with health and care partners as the reason why these patients will no longer need a designated space.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Royal Hospital said: "The current Pathway Discharge Unit (PDU) on the Worcestershire Royal Hospital site is due to close at the end of the summer 2024.

"This will enable the removal of the temporary building it is located in to make way for a new MRI scanner to be installed in the neighbouring building.

"It is part of wider work looking at how we configure existing services, while continuing to improve patient flow and more timely discharge from hospital.

“The Pathway Discharge Unit has provided a valuable location where we have been able to transfer patients who have complex discharge needs, particularly those who have ongoing care needs in their usual place of residence.

“With the continued work on improving patient flow, in partnership with our health and care partners, we continue to see improvements in how quickly these care needs can be met without the need to transfer patients to a dedicated space on the Worcestershire Royal site."

PDU is for patients who no longer need acute hospital care but are waiting to transfer to another care setting and patients will now either be discharged straight from the ward or go to the discharge lounge and home.

Elaine Willmore, vice chair of the health and wellbeing committee at Worcester City Council, said: "If the patient flow is so good that the hospital no longer needs this facility then this is fantastic news. 

"As an NHS worker, I know how complicated and effective it can be. 

"Flow from day to day can be unpredictable and because of a lack of social care it can take time to release patients home. 

"This means that sometimes people who are medically fit for discharge can't go home and this can have an impact on the care that other people receive."

David Ross, chairman of the health and wellbeing board at Worcestershire County Council, said: "None of us want to be kept in hospital longer than we need to be.  

"So, if we can help patients get home without them needing to spend time in a Pathway Discharge Unit then that is a good thing. 

"As chair of the health and wellbeing board I’ll continue to seek assurance that patients aren’t facing unnecessary delays in the care they need."