Shriners scraps plans for new St. Louis hospital

Shriners Hospital for Children said Wednesday it has dropped plans for a seven-story hospital in the Central West End and instead will build a much smaller outpatient orthopedic surgery center. The new plan recognizes that its need for inpatient care in St. Louis is slight, said Tammy Robbins, spokeswoman for Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis. On some weekends, the existing hospital at 2001 South Lindbergh Boulevard in Frontenac has only one or two patients, she said. Shriners has struck a preliminary agreement to use St. Louis Children's Hospital for inpatient care and surgeries that require overnight stays, as well as related services.