A brand-new unit that will expand endoscopy services for patients in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is beginning to take shape at the Leicester General Hospital.
Construction of the new £18 million site, which will feature six procedure rooms, as well as 20 pods for patients before and after their procedures, started in 2024.
The new standalone, two-storey unit will provide around 17,000 endoscopy appointments every year. An endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure that is carried out to examine a patient’s digestive tract and can be used to help diagnose a number of conditions, including cancer.
With the structural frame of the building now in place and the roof complete, a ‘topping out’ ceremony for the unit took place on Thursday 27 February.
UHL Deputy Chief Executive Simon Barton said: “It is great to be able to celebrate this milestone in the project, and we are excited to be building an important new facility for the endoscopy service here at the Leicester General Hospital.
“Endoscopy is a key part of our diagnostic services and this new unit is part of our commitment to providing state-of-the-art healthcare for the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
“This is part of our wider strategy to improve care and reduce waiting times. Endoscopy at East Midlands is right next door to the East Midlands Planned Care Centre, which opened in December and will eventually provide around 100,000 appointments every year.
“It is great to have these celebratory moments as a team, as everyone is working hardon behalf of our patients. I would like to thank everyone involved.”
Dr Richard Robinson, Consultant Gastroenterologist, added: “It is nice to see the progress on the project, which is such an important one for our endoscopy service. It will be a modern healthcare facility that will be a great environment to both deliver and receive healthcare.
“As a clinician, it’s exciting that we will be able to work in a new unit because we know that will mean we can provide even better care for our patients.”
Ian Taylor, Managing Director for Henry Brothers Construction, who are managing the build of the unit, said: “We were very proud to have been appointed to deliver a new endoscopy unit at the Leicester General Hospital for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
“Henry Brothers has significant experience of delivering new public sector investment and the team is pleased with the current progress on site in the construction of this important new hospital building, which will help to improve healthcare for the people of Leicestershire and the surrounding areas.”