Exciting new plans for Leeds General Infirmary
Exciting proposals for a brand new hospital development to transform Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) have been welcomed by the University.
A computer-generated image of how the interior of the new Leeds Children’s Hospital could look
Plans by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) for two state-of-the-art buildings, including a dedicated Children’s Hospital on the LGI site, have been submitted to Leeds City Council for discussion at a pre-planning application presentation next week.
They are part of an ambitious, long-term vision for the LGI called Hospitals of the Future, which aims to revolutionise health services for patients in Leeds and the wider region.
At the University, we enjoy a long-standing partnership with LTHT based on clinical and academic research and innovation, teaching and strategic development in the city.
And this landmark development will see LGI become the cornerstone of the new Leeds Innovation District, strengthening links between the hospital, ourselves, Leeds Beckett University and Leeds City Council.
Plans for the area around the new hospital include hubs for research, innovation and technologies, office accommodation, retail, residential developments, green spaces and landscaped pedestrian walkways.
Nexus – our new £40m innovation centre – is the first tangible asset in the Leeds Innovation District, and the team behind it is hugely excited to see such ambitious plans from the LTHT for development of the LGI site. Partnerships, such as that between the LTHT and the University, are crucial to the success of the programme, and further growth within the district to put Leeds at the forefront of both healthcare and wider innovation are welcomed.
Nexus will support our research partnerships with LTHT, harnessing research capabilities across areas such as medtech, cancer, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, clinical trials and digital health.
Dr Martin Stow, Nexus Director and Leeds Innovation District board member, said: “We’re thrilled to be at the heart of the new Leeds Innovation District and LTHT’s plans represent an exciting opportunity to put Leeds at the cutting edge of healthcare innovation.
“The Trust’s proposals demonstrate true commitment to boosting the already excellent healthcare services on offer to patients across the region, which Nexus will support through our research partnerships, bringing health technologies from concept to reality.”
Developing specialist healthcare
The first hospital building, joined to LGI’s Jubilee Wing, will extend health services for adults. Among its facilities will be a new theatre suite dedicated to day case procedures, endoscopy and radiology services, as well as a central Outpatients department supported by key services like pharmacy.
It will also have more critical care capacity, allowing LGI to expand its highly specialist services – like major trauma or cardiac care, for example – and further develop specialist healthcare in the future. These services benefit patients from Leeds, the wider region and, in some cases, the rest of the UK.
The second new building will be a Leeds Children’s Hospital. For the first time in the city, this will bring together staff and services from the current children’s hospital in LGI’s Clarendon and Martin wings to deliver health services for children and young people in purpose-built facilities dedicated solely to their needs.
Julian Hartley, Chief Executive, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: “This is a really exciting development for our hospitals that will be a huge step forward in the way we provide healthcare for patients in Leeds and the wider region.
“By designing hospital buildings from the ground up, we’ll be able to embrace new technologies and innovation to deliver modern, efficient health services that are tailored to our patients’ needs, not just now but in the future.”
Leeds landmarks
As part of the vision for the area, the Trust will be working with agencies like Historic England to bring listed properties, such as the Gilbert Scott building in Great George Street, back to life. Although they can’t be used for modern healthcare today, they are landmarks in Leeds and, with sympathetic development, will be preserved for future generations.
Linda Pollard CBE DL Hon.DLL, Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is a not only a significant investment in the future of health services for patients in Leeds, West Yorkshire and beyond, but also a major boost to the health economy in Leeds.”
Leeds City Council leader, Councillor Judith Blake, said: “With the aim of developing new ideas and pioneering technology being at the heart of the proposals, this plan has a key role to play in our Innovation District, which has already generated more than £140m of investment. Leeds is already at the forefront of health innovation, research and learning, and this proposal will strengthen that position further. We look forward to following these plans with keen interest.”
Public consultation
The Trust’s plans have now been made public and, for the next two months, patients and members of the public are invited to view them and share feedback. This is the first stage in the process to gain planning approval and realise the vision. Visit the Trust website for more details about the proposals and two public drop-in events in November.
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