Plans for new hospital building given green light

An application for a temporary operating theatre at Leicester General Hospital has been approved

A new operating theatre has been given the green light at a Leicester hospital.

Plans for a temporary extension to the maternity unit at Leicester General Hospital were approved by the city council on Wednesday.

According to the application, the one and a half storey modular building will not add capacity to the existing unit, but will add an operating theatre, anaesthetic room and preparation rooms.

The permission states the structure must be moved from the approved location within 10 years, unless a new application is made.

Julie Hogg, chief nurse at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, which runs Leicester General Hospital, said: "The new maternity theatre at the Leicester General Hospital will enable our teams to carry out planned and emergency procedures in separate areas, reducing the risk of delays.

"Our long-term plan will consolidate acute maternity services at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. The new theatre is designed to be adapted for future use by other clinical specialities."