Work begins on new theatre development at Leeds Children’s Hospital

The new theatre complex will improve the care provided to young patients with complex congenital heart disease, and those undergoing neurosurgery.

The cardiac hybrid theatre allows cardiac surgeons and cardiologists to perform surgery at the same time which means the skills of both specialists can be employed together, reducing treatment time for patients.

The intra-operative MRI scanner allows scans to be done during neurological surgical procedures. For example, surgeons will be able to see straight away how much of a brain tumour has been removed rather than scanning at a later date to discover that additional procedures may be required. Patients need fewer general anaesthetics, MRI scans and surgical procedures.

Matthew Garnett, BAM’s Construction Manager, said: ‘The big challenge is not so much the construction as it is working around a live theatre environment, and connecting the new structure to the existing one. That has involved detailed planning about how this affects the Trust’s ongoing surgery times and our own construction programme. Our collaborative planning with the Trust is already proving very fruitful, and we have some positive feedback. The quality of our relationships is what drives a complex scheme like this to success.’

Gordon Stirling BAM’s Healthcare Framework Manager, said: ‘The ProCure22 framework route adopted for this scheme provides an excellent environment to work in a culture of collaboration with our clients, delivering complex healthcare projects in a ‘one-team’ approach.’

Simon Neville, Director of Strategy and Planning at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: ‘We are delighted that work has started on our new children’s theatre development and are looking forward to seeing the plans come to life. This will make a real difference to the care we can provide our young patients undergoing cardiac and neuro surgery. I would like to thank our charity partners, the Leeds Hospital Charitable Foundation and Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, for their commitment to fundraising for this new development and helping to get this project up and running.’

The new theatre development is being supported by generous donations from The Leeds Hospital Charitable Foundation and Children’s Heart Surgery Fund’s ‘Keeping The Beat’ campaign.

David Welch, Chief Executive of Leeds Hospital Charitable Foundation, said: ‘Improving the lives of patients is at the centre of what we do and it would be impossible without the incredible generosity of our donors. The difference that this theatre development will make is evident and we’re delighted to be a part of this hugely important project.’

Sharon Coyle, Chief Executive of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, said: ‘We’re delighted work has started on the revolutionary heart theatre, which our passionate supporters have helped fund through the Keeping The Beat appeal.’

”Central to our charity vision is providing the best possible future for congenital heart patients, and this new facility will offer exceptional specialist care to babies and children for generations to come.”

The new complex will link directly to the existing theatres in Clarendon Wing and work will be undertaken by Leeds-based contractor BAM Construction.

The new theatre complex is expected to be open to patients in February 2019.

If you would like to support our partner charities, you can do so in the following ways:

The Leeds Hospital Charitable Foundation

Telephone: 0113 206 4540

Online: http://www.leedshospitalsfundraising.org.uk/

Children’s Heart Surgery Fund’s Keeping The Beat Campaign

Text: BEAT02 £10 to 70070

Online:  www.chsf.org.uk/keeping-the-beat/