Swansea Bay University Health Board has appointed UK-based architectural practice Stride Treglown to submit a planning proposal for an extension at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, UK.

According to Insider Media, the proposals for the hospital's main building include the establishment of a modular Positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) scanning unit among other ancillary facilities.

The board aims to set up this PET-CT unit on an existing underused patch located near the north-eastern quadrant of Singleton Hospital's main campus.

The work associated with installing the new unit is expected to be ‘relatively minor’ due to its modular nature.

The board's decision comes after it identified an 'urgent' need for a dedicated PET-CT Scanning Unit, as the hospital currently has no permanent infrastructure for medical imaging to diagnose patients.

At present, patients who are advised by a doctor to undertake a PET-CT are transferred to Cardiff.

The extension works are part of a larger work package being directed by the health board to improve Singleton Hospital's ability to protect the health of people in the region.

This package also includes an extension of the hospital's Day Surgery Unit, as well as the installation of a modular Elective Surgery unit at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital in Port Talbot.

Earlier this year, Swansea Council approved pre-application plans for a regional centre of excellence for pathology and mortuary services.

The centre would specialise in blood sciences, cellular pathology, microbiology and infectious disease diagnostics for pathology, as well as body storage, post-mortem and bereavement services.

It would be built on an existing car park and part of a cleared demolition area at the Morriston Hospital site.

Swansea Bay University Health Board developed the plans in collaboration with Public Health Wales NHS Trust and Hywel Dda University Health Board.