Southmead Hospital: Construction begins on new surgery unit

The centre will open in spring 2025

Construction has started on a new £49.9m elective surgery centre at a major hospital.

The unit, at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, will allow for an extra 6,500 surgeries per year.

This will enable more patients to be seen at other hospitals in the region sooner, health bosses said.

The elective centre will have four surgical theatres and 40 beds for patients, as well as 12 rooms where patients prepare for surgery.

The centre is a joint project between North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW).

A small ceremony was held between staff from the trusts, to formally begin construction.

NBT chief executive, Maria Kane, said: "Once completed, this elective centre will transform and improve the way we provide elective care and enable us to treat our patients faster." 

Staff gathered for a small ceremony to mark the start of construction

She added: "It is wonderful to see work starting on the centre, which will be a fantastic asset for the whole of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and we look forward to welcoming our first patients in spring 2025."

Professor Stuart Walker, UHBW interim chief executive officer, said: "This elective centre will improve patients' experiences of planned surgery, enabling them to receive life-changing treatment sooner and spend time in better health with their loved ones.

"We are excited that work has started on the centre and look forward to continuing our collaboration with partners across Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire to develop and deliver the centre and services for our patients."