Leicester Hospital Unveils New Outpatient Facility to Reduce Waiting Times

An outpatient facility recently launched at a Leicester hospital is projected to handle approximately 100,000 appointments annually, according to NHS officials. This £40 million East Midlands Planned Care Centre (EMPCC), situated within Leicester General Hospital, commenced operations on Friday, occupying the site of the former Brandon Unit. Initially, nine specialties, including general surgery, gastroenterology, bloods, and urology, are scheduled to relocate into this facility for elective – non-urgent – procedures. However, the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) stated that the area is designed for flexibility, allowing specialties to rotate in and out of the centre based on operational requirements. Rachael Briggs, UHL’s associate director of operations, reported that 650 patients had visited the new centre during its first week. She commented, “We’ve started off a little slower than we would usually and it allows the team to build up to get to that 100,000 patients a year when we’re fully open.” Ms. Briggs indicated that the initiative required two and a half years to develop and involved a “huge amount of work” throughout the trust, noting that the EMPCC contributes approximately 7% additional planned care capacity for Leicester. She further stated, “Our priority with this new facility is reducing waiting times in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.” She also mentioned, “There is opportunity to take patients from wider parts of the region.” Matt Jarvis, a Leicester resident, shared that he had experienced a 10-month wait for treatment following a perforated ear drum. The 26-year-old recounted that a specialist had previously informed him that no specific timeline for his treatment could be provided because of the extensive waiting list. He remarked, “I thought it’d be way into next year before I got seen.” He continued, “I don’t know if it’s because [the EMPCC] is open, but I saw the specialist. Within three days, I had an appointment for the surgery and pre-op.” He concluded, “I’m glad it all sorted for Christmas.” The EMPCC is set to focus on procedures encompassing gynaecology, general surgery, and urology.