Crumbling hospital in Leeds costing the public purse millions
Plans to build a new hospital at Leeds General Infirmary are now urgently needed as Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is faced with mounting costs and crumbling hospital buildings.
As the Government undertakes a review of the New Hospital Programme, the Trust is urging local MPs and stakeholders to help highlight the critical need for its new hospital and why the Trust’s unique scheme should be prioritised.
Craige Richardson, Director of Estates and Facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust explains: “Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has one of the oldest estates in the NHS. Some of its buildings date back more than 150 years and despite ongoing investment to repair and maintain the facilities, the Trust is faced with ageing services infrastructure, leaking roofs, damp, and crumbling walls and ceilings which are inadequate for patient care. While we have relocated clinical services from these poor estate areas to other parts of the hospital, the estate’s age and condition has significantly increased the Trust’s backlog maintenance costs which are increasing each year.”
The cost to rectify backlog maintenance and maintain services is estimated to be more than £630m, which includes replacing critical infrastructure and the removal of vacant buildings at the LGI site, the location for the new hospital. However, in order to increase capacity, enable operational and long-term sustainable efficiencies, and provide much-needed improvements for patients and staff, a new modern hospital is needed.
The Trust’s plan to build a new state-of-the-art hospital, including a new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital, a new adults’ hospital and new single-site maternity centre will transform healthcare for patients, staff and communities across Leeds, Yorkshire and beyond. Designed to be more sustainable and harnessing the latest technology, it will be more efficient and effective to run as well as reducing the Trust’s maintenance backlog. More than just healthcare, it will also fuel economic growth in the future by repurposing vacant hospital estate and creating an Innovation Village in the heart of Leeds bringing in 4,000 jobs and £13bn to the regional economy.
Yet, the latest review of the national New Hospital Programme is placing a further pause on the progress that the Trust can make and it is contributing to operational and financial challenges for the Trust.
Prof Phil Wood, Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The condition of some parts of our estate are unsuitable for delivering patient care and not reflective of the world-class healthcare our colleagues provide. A number of our worst-affected areas at Leeds General Infirmary, including parts of Brotherton Wing and Martin Wing, require continuous investment and we have even had to close some of our clinical areas altogether, relocating services to other parts of our hospital. However, this is not sustainable. The cost of these essential repairs are at the highest rate they have been for the Trust and this is costing the public purse millions.”
“While our plans for the new hospital are an exciting ambition and will deliver excellent value for money, they are now essential. Without a new hospital, we will not be able to deliver the scale and quality of care for our patients in the future.”
The Trust’s plans are part of the national New Hospital Programme, a major Government initiative to invest in hospital infrastructure. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Hospitals of the Future project is among the most advanced and ready-to-go schemes in the national programme.
However, the Trust’s scheme has been faced with national delays since it was first confirmed as a hospital project in September 2019. This has significantly constrained the progress the Trust has been able to make and has increased overall costs of the build by an estimated £300m driven by a range of national factors directly outside of the Trust’s control, including inflation.
Alex Sobel, MP for Leeds Central and Headingley is one MP who has visited the Trust to see first-hand the challenges that are facing the Trust. He said: “Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides exceptional care across all its sites, but I was quite concerned by the condition of some of the oldest parts of the hospital, which are no longer fit for purpose. The Trust is doing what it can to invest in its ageing estate and relocate some of the most affected services, but it will soon reach a point where further relocations are not feasible, and the ongoing maintenance costs are putting significant strain on NHS budgets.
“I understand the financial pressures on public finances and fully appreciate the need to place the New Hospital Programme on a more sustainable path. I am eager to work with colleagues across the Government to highlight how Leeds Teaching Hospital’s new hospital project is uniquely positioned to deliver outstanding value for money and is ready to begin construction as soon as the Trust is able to proceed.”
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust plans to build a new state-of-the-art hospital at its historic Leeds General Infirmary site. The Trust has robust plans, an award-winning design, outline planning consent, a cleared construction site in the centre of Leeds and has made significant progress with its works to prepare for the build.
The Trust has estimated that its scheme is currently £1.42bn. This current estimate reflects all aspects of the project, and have now been consolidated into one scheme, at the request of the New Hospital Programme and also reflects the increase in costs as a result of the delays which are beyond the control of the Trust.
The cost of the new hospital is yet to be agreed following feedback from New Hospital Programme and the Trust is currently waiting for the outcome of the Government’s review.