Janine GriffithsA new £32 million Elective Care Hub at Chapel Allerton Hospital has been given the go ahead by NHS England, in a move aimed at reducing waiting times for patients in East Leeds and across the region.
The purpose built extension will include a 23 bed ward, two operating theatres and an admissions area, expanding the existing theatre suite at the hospital. Developed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the hub is expected to increase the Trust’s elective operating capacity by more than 1,600 cases per year once it opens.
By creating protected spaces for planned spinal and orthopaedic operations away from busier main hospital sites such as Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital, the new facility is designed to ensure surgery can take place all year round without disruption from emergency pressures.
Funding for the project comes from NHS England and the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System. It will also support the recruitment of 142 additional staff members for the hub. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2026, with the facility due to open in November 2027.
Craige Richardson, Director of Estates & Facilities at Leeds Hospitals and senior responsible officer for the project, said: “This is fantastic news for patients in Leeds and from across the region as well as our colleagues working at the hospital. The purpose-built elective care hub increases protected space and theatres to see planned inpatients, enhancing their experience and meaning we can see more people more quickly.
“Thank you to the teams who have worked hard to get us to this point. This project exemplifies our commitment to modernising our healthcare infrastructure to meet future demands, bringing clear benefits for the people we provide care for.”
Health Minister Karin Smyth welcomed the investment and said that it will help thousands more people get the treatment they need sooner.
She added: “Dedicated elective hubs like this are crucial to cutting waiting times, by allowing surgery to go ahead all year round without disruption from emergency pressures.
“This project is a clear example of how we are modernising the NHS, investing in the frontline and backing local systems to deliver real improvements for patients.”
During the build process, the Clinical Genetics service will move site while works are underway.
