Northern Powerhouse Minister welcomes plans for two new hospitals in Leeds
7 October 2019
Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth Rt Hon Jake Berry MP visited Leeds General Infirmary to hear first-hand about plans to build two new hospitals and transform the city centre.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of six trusts to receive a share of £2.7 billion funding to build new hospitals by 2025.
In Leeds, a state-of-the- art adults’ hospital will have new operating theatres for day case procedures and added critical care facilities.
The new children’s hospital next door will bring together services for children and young people in a purpose-built centre.
These new hospitals will also release land and buildings to support the development of an Innovation District for Leeds, putting this Northern Powerhouse city at the cutting edge of health-tech innovation.
Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Rt Hon Jake Berry MP said: “Not only will our investment create two world-class hospitals, it will also help deliver better care for patients across Leeds and Yorkshire. This investment also paves the way for the city’s Innovation District which will attract more investment, create high value jobs and put the Northern Powerhouse at the cutting-edge of innovation in health-tech.
“Leeds is benefitting from the biggest hospital building programme in a generation. We’re building on significant government support for the area including multi-million pound town deals and over £695 million in Growth Deal funding to level up every place in the UK.”
Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Julian Hartley said: “This investment is an historic development in the future of patient care in Leeds and the wider region.
“It will enable the Trust to take a huge leap forward in how it delivers care for patients from Leeds and beyond. The benefits of this funding will be far-reaching as Leeds is a renowned centre for specialist services, providing treatment and care for patients from across the region, the North of England in in some instances, the rest of the UK. We will be able to develop healthcare based on advanced medical and digital technologies, innovation and research.
“This funding and the development of the two new hospitals will help Leeds take a huge leap forward in developing an Innovation District, putting the city at the forefront of developing health-tech and research, and attracting investment, skills and jobs to our region.”
During his visit to Leeds, Minister Berry also saw how £350,000 from the Better Care Fund is supporting the Frailty Assessment Unit at the Trust’s St James’s Hospital to help vulnerable patients taken to A&E get the most suitable support rather than being admitted to hospital.
