New maternity theatre opened at hospital

The extra theatre is expected to reduce delays in the hospital's maternity department.

A new maternity theatre has opened at a Leicester hospital.

The £3.4m facility has been created in a one-and-a-half storey modular building at Leicester General Hospital’s maternity unit.

Hospital bosses said the extension will improve patient experience with “a climate-controlled, light and bright environment” for births.

While the new building does not expand the Evington hospital’s maternity capacity, planning documents submitted earlier this year said it will reduce the risk of delays.

As well as a theatre, the extension provides an anaesthetic room and preparation rooms.

Fran Hollis, consultant obstetrician, said: “Compared to our old facility it’s just enormous, and that will make a huge difference for the staff and for the women and their families, having their births in the theatre,

“We’re hoping by having a second team of staff in a second good theatre, that will improve our workflow but also our women’s experiences of their births as well.”

LRI move planned

Oliver Needham, capital project manager, said: “I think it’s great to deliver something like this.

“You get everybody coming and looking around really proud at what we’ve done, we’re really pleased.”

The trust said the theatre is only intended to be used temporarily for acute maternity services, which are set to move to the Leicester Royal Infirmary in the coming years.

But the facility has been designed to be adapted for future use by other clinical specialities remaining at the General, when maternity moves away.