Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) is delighted to have secured funding to build additional theatre capacity at Leigh Infirmary as part of a regional £130.3 million surgical hub scheme, in a bid to help reduce the COVID-19 backlog and offer patients quicker access to vital procedures.
WWL was named as one of 13 surgical hubs in a network across the North West that is set to provide over 137,800 additional procedures and appointments a year for patients in the region waiting for treatment.
Silas Nicholls, WWL Chief Executive, said: “This new development is just one part of the Trust’s programme of investment into patient services at Leigh Infirmary, to expand on our and provide a modern ‘one stop shop’ diagnostics and healthcare facility.
“The work to build the additional theatre is due to start this week, alongside the complementary Community Diagnostic Centre Scheme. This new surgical hub facility will expand the range of procedures which can be undertaken at Leigh Infirmary, which is fantastic news for our patients and the surrounding area.”
The theatre, which is planned to open in Autumn 2023, will allow the Trust to expand its day case capacity for patients waiting for surgery on the waiting list back log following the response to COVID-19.
Silas added: “WWL staff are working incredibly hard to support those patients waiting to be treated and we are deeply grateful to the hard work and dedication they are providing, as well as the patience and understanding of our patients.”