Cancer patients requiring intensive care at Liverpool's Royal Hospital will be taken across a road through a retractable tunnel because the new hospital building isn't complete.
The new Royal hospital was supposed to be finished three years ago but will now not open until 2022 due to years of delays stemming from the collapse of construction giant Carillion and problems during building.
The hospital is being constructed next to the new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, which is set to open at the end of June.
Both new hospitals are connected to one another with the aim of allowing patients to be transferred easily should they require critical care.
However, hospital bosses have now had to submit plans to construct a temporary passageway to connect the new Clatterbridge to the old Royal so that any patients who need intensive care can be taken to the old hospital until the new Royal opens in two years.
The new Clatterbridge site is on the other side of an emergency access road, so while part of the passage will be a semi-permanent structure the other half will be a retractable tunnel with a metal frame and PVC covering.
A document submitted with the hospital's planning application says: "The new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre will provide specialist chemotherapy and other drug therapies, including immunotherapy, radiotherapy, inpatient and outpatient care, cancer support and rehabilitation, bone marrow transplant and urgent cancer care. There will also be a dedicated teenage and young adult unit.
"It is intended that the building is used in collaboration with The Royal Hospital, with The Royal providing critical care when required.
"The building is to be linked to the new Royal hospital, so patient transfer between buildings can be undertaken when required.
"Unfortunately, due to the construction delays with the new hospital, a route is now required between the New Clatterbridge and the existing hospital building."
The documents say the design is formulated to reduce the impact on the area around it while being suitable for critical care patients.
It adds that trials were conducted to ensure hospital beds could be manoeuvred safely through the route and across the road, which is an emergency access route for the fire brigade.
