The core of our approach is to separate emergency and planned care so that one does not overwhelm the other.
Under our proposals Glenfield Hospital would expand by almost one-third - as services move over from Leicester General Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary.
A ‘super intensive care unit’ would be developed to support the growth in demand generated from all services. Planned orthopaedics (bones and joints), liver medicine, kidney medicine and urology services would relocate from Leicester General Hospital to create a special surgical hub with a supporting admissions unit. It would double the size of our intensive care services, improving the care of our most ill patients with conditions including strokes, heart attacks and breathing problems.
The renal service (looking after people with kidney disease) and haemodialysis service (cleaning of the blood) would move from Leicester General Hospital to Glenfield Hospital as part of the proposals. There would also be a haemodialysis unit located to the south of Leicester.
The treatment centre at Glenfield Hospital would provide outpatient facilities and day case surgery. The centre would offer state-of-the-art, purpose-built wards, theatres and imaging facilities – effectively a ‘one-stop-shop’ for clinics and investigations so that patients have their care and treatment in one day and in one place rather than being sent from site to site over a longer period of time.
The treatment centre is an important part of our plans and enables the separation of planned care from emergency care. At the moment, our emergency care services and planned care services sit side-by-side. This means that at times of pressure, patients waiting for planned surgery often have their operations cancelled because an emergency patient needs the bed, is in theatre or intensive care is full. Locating the treatment centre at Glenfield Hospital away from emergency care predominantly provided at Leicester Royal Infirmary, would help to protect planned care procedures.
We know that Leicester Royal Infirmary tends to be ‘full’ with traffic and parking a significant issue for patients, visitors and staff. Moving the majority of planned care from Leicester Royal Infirmary – which currently sees more than 100,000 patients for day-case procedures and approximately 600,000 for follow-up appointments a year – frees up capacity at Leicester Royal Infirmary to manage emergency demand. This creates space for a dedicated children’s hospital and new maternity hospital and reduces congestion and parking problems.
Summary of key changes proposed for Glenfield Hospital
- Building of new premises to house a treatment centre, inpatient wards and theatres
- Expansion of the intensive care unit to create a ‘super’ intensive care unit
- Creation of a new surgical admissions unit
- Building of a new car park
- Creation of a new welcome centre
To view the consultation documents please click here
