A new elective care hub aimed at addressing the COVID-19 surgical backlog is set to open in Leeds.

The £1m development at Wharfedale Hospital in Otley provides a COVID-free site, away from emergency care services, providing additional theatre capacity to care for up to 18 patients a week requiring foot, ankle, and upper limb procedures.

Commissioned by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to tackle the backlog of patients waiting for treatment, the hospital is being built by main contractor, BAM Construction, and was designed by Watson Batty Architects.

Dudleys Consulting Engineers consulted on all structural and civil engineering requirements for the install, including ground foundations, services integration, and firewall construction.

The process was managed with a police escort overseeing the delivery of the offsite-manufactured Vanguard units which were fully fitted out to surgical theatre requirements.

Andy Walker, managing director at Dudleys, said: “There were a number of challenges, including planning procedures, firewall construction to protect the existing hospital, and delivery of the units due to Storm Etna affecting the River Wharfe bridge, but we successfully completed the install with levelling and support blocks in place to allow fit out.”

The new theatres are expected to be ready for use by the end of the year.