A NEW blood sciences laboratory is set to be created at Colchester General Hospital.

Hospital bosses want its blood science services to be under one roof.

The hospital trust has submitted plans to Colchester Council to create a first-storey extension to part of the hospital in Turner Road.

Dr Gillian Urwin, a consultant microbiologist and divisional director of cancer and clinical support services division, said the move would improve turnaround times for patients.

She said: “We want to bring the work which is done at the former Severalls hospital into the general hospital.

“At the moment, blood work from the wards and accident and emergency is driven to Severalls before being brought back.

“The benefit for patients will really be the turnaround times which come with moving it into Colchester General Hospital.

“The trust has had plans to do this for quite some time. It has just taken some time to dot all the i’s and cross the t’s.

“If all goes to plan, we hope to start work on this towards the end of this year or the first quarter of next year. But we are reliant on the planning process.”

The biochemistry, histopathology and cytopathology laboratories are housed in the former Severalls Hospital, in Chestnut Villa, Boxted Road.

Haematology, incorporating blood transfusion and immunology, is situated in Colchester General Hospital.

The microbiology department is in Turner Road. The department is due to close in about a year and non-urgent tests will be carried out in Ipswich.

Thehospital would not reveal how much the blood sciences laboratory extension and transfer of services will cost. Dr Urwin said there will be no job losses as a result of the move.

Colchester Council will have the final say and expects to make a decision by July 1.