A brand-new endoscopy unit at the Leicester General Hospital officially welcomed its first patients this week.
The new unit, which provides a wide range of procedures, opened its doors to patients on Wednesday 5 November.
The purpose-built unit includes six procedure rooms, and 20 private pods for patients before and after their procedures, each with an en-suite.
An endoscopy is a test to look inside a patient’s body. A small camera on the end of a tube allows the clinical team to look for signs of disease and help identify issues earlier.
The endoscopy team at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust already provides a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to more than 30,000 patients every year and this new facility will help patients to be seen sooner in a purpose-built environment.
In response to growing demand, the new unit will help ensure patients are seen more promptly, enabling quicker access to the next steps in their planned care. The unit will have the capacity to see an extra 9,000 patients every year, which will play an important part in reducing waiting lists.
Associate Director of Operations, Rachael Briggs, said: “We know how important earlier diagnosis is for conditions such as cancer, which endoscopy procedures help to detect. We are delighted that this new facility is open to help our teams see and treat more patients, as well as bringing some of our services closer to this area of Leicester.
“As part of the new unit, we have used digital solutions to replace paper forms, allowing our clinical teams to have more time to care for patients. The new facility is bright, open, and modern, which will make a big difference to those working here and visiting. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this project for making it a reality. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and this new unit will go a long way towards improving their experience, and that of our team.”
Work on the unit started in March 2024 and was carried out by Henry Brothers Construction.
Ian Taylor, Managing Director of Henry Brothers Construction, said: “We are very pleased to have successfully completed our first project for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and look forward to more successful partnerships in the future.
“The new Endoscopy Unit at the Leicester General Hospital will improve the diagnostic and treatment experience of patients and provide staff with a modern facility in which to work.
“Henry Brothers Construction is very proud to have delivered this new Endoscopy Unit which will play a key role in enhancing healthcare for the local community.”