University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) has begun building a major new aseptic pharmacy facility to provide faster and more reliable cancer treatments for our patients. Located in the Osborne Building at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, the new facility will mean we can prepare more sterile medicines for cancer treatment and clinical research. These medicines must be prepared in highly controlled environments to ensure they meet the highest standards of safety, quality and sterility.
The project will create a modern aseptic pharmacy suite featuring specialist clean rooms and isolators, which are essential for producing these life-saving medicines. Once complete, we will be able to prepare more medicines on site, which means we will not have to rely so much on external suppliers.
The project is part of our future hospitals programme, which is focused on modernising hospital facilities and ensuring services are equipped to meet the needs of patients now and in the future.
The project has been supported by donations from HOPE Against Cancer, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and Leicester Hospitals Charity.
We are building this facility because more patients need these cancer treatments than ever before. All of this will help us to meet the future needs of our patients and support national cancer standards.
The expanded facility will also support the growth of clinical trials, giving more patients access to innovative therapies closer to home.
David Williams, Chief Pharmacist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “This investment represents a significant step forward for our pharmacy services and will help us meet the growing demand for cancer treatments and clinical research across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. By increasing our capacity to prepare medicines on site, we will be able to provide a more resilient, efficient and high-quality service for patients, while supporting access to new and innovative treatments in the future.”
The next phase began on 21 September, with construction activity expected to continue in phases over the coming months. UHL is working closely with patients, visitors and colleagues to minimise disruption and will provide regular updates throughout the project, including information about access arrangements, parking and any temporary changes around the Osborne Building.
The new facility is expected to the open in early 2028.
What is an isolator?
Isolators are sealed workstations used to protect sterile medicines from contamination while they are being prepared. Clean rooms are specially designed, highly controlled environments where air quality, cleanliness, temperature, and humidity are carefully monitored to reduce the risk of contamination during the preparation of medicines.