PLANS to provide doctors and nurses at Southampton's main hospital with a staff welfare hub have been given the go-ahead.

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) has received consent to replace an existing building with new changing and showering facilities, rest and relaxation areas, and a cafe.

The scheme has been given the go-ahead by the city council.

It comes as tens of thousands of NHS employees across the UK continue to take industrial action over what they describe as poor pay and working conditions.

Daily Echo: A CGI of the proposed staff welfare hub at University Hospital SouthamptonA CGI of the proposed staff welfare hub at University Hospital Southampton (Image: Williams Architects)

The planning application said existing facilities for staff at the hospital were "limited and fragmented".

It added: "The proposal is to create a hub of welfare facilities in one location, providing a high-quality environment for staff to make use of on arrival, departure and during breaks in their shifts.

"Under normal circumstances, the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust would not have the means to fund a project such as this.

"However, thanks to a generous donation made to the Southampton Hospitals Charity, this unique opportunity has arisen."

Daily Echo: The proposed staff welfare hub will replace Tardiff House in Laundry RoadThe proposed staff welfare hub will replace Tardiff House in Laundry Road (Image: Williams Architrects)

The application said the hub would support the well-being of staff who had worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and were still doing so, but had only limited facilities for rest and relaxation during breaks.

The facility will replace Tardiff House in Laundry Road, a block of eight flats that was built more than 60 years ago.

It is currently used to provide doctors' accommodation, which will be relocated elsewhere on the hospital site.

The application said: "The new building will create a hub for staff welfare facilities, providing a pleasant environment in which to start, end and take breaks from shifts.

Daily Echo: The proposed staff welfare hub will replace Tardiff House in Laundry RoadThe proposed staff welfare hub will replace Tardiff House in Laundry Road (Image: Williams Architects/Google Earth)

"The wider hospital site has secured entry, 24-hour CCTV monitoring and regular patrols which will be extended to incorporate the new hub.

"The building has four active facades with windows providing natural surveillance of the exterior.

"External lighting has been designed to ensure the building can be used safely throughout the hours of darkness.

"The lighting will be located at key positions around the building and will have integral solar time clock controls to ensure operation only in hours of darkness.

"A robust design strategy has been implemented to ensure the impact of the proposed new building on climate change is minimal."

A design and access statement said the two-storey facility would be surrounded by a landscaped garden.

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