A new £18 million endoscopy unit in Leicester is set to revolutionize healthcare in the region, aiming to drastically reduce waiting times and meet the growing demand for endoscopy procedures. The state-of-the-art facility, officially opened at the Leicester General Hospital on November 5, boasts a diagnostic capacity to handle up to 1,400 cases per month. This is a significant increase from the 30,000 endoscopy procedures currently performed annually, with the goal of adding an additional 9,000 procedures per year.
The unit's design includes six procedure rooms and 20 patient pods, each equipped with an ensuite bathroom, providing a comfortable and personalized experience for patients. This facility is expected to make a substantial impact on healthcare in Leicestershire, as evidenced by the positive feedback from patients and healthcare professionals.
British powerlifter Ali Jawad, a silver medalist at the Rio Paralympics in 2016, officially opened the endoscopy centre. He shared his experience of living with undiagnosed Crohn's disease for nine months, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Mr. Jawad described the centre as 'amazing' and 'futuristic', highlighting the individual pods that make patients feel 'centred and looked after'.
Patient Nafisabanu Ahmed, who visited the centre for a routine check following a bowel cancer screening test, praised the new facility as 'amazing and pleasant'. She felt comfortable during her procedure and is now awaiting her results to take the next steps in her healthcare journey.
Dr. Sanjeev Pattni, a consultant gastroenterologist and co-head of service at the University Hospitals of Leicester (UCL) NHS Trust, noted the increasing demand for endoscopy procedures over the years, particularly in the context of the national bowel cancer screening programme. He emphasized that the new unit will enable the trust to meet these demands and significantly reduce the backlog of patients waiting for endoscopy procedures.
Rachael Briggs, associate director of operations at the trust, underscored the importance of early diagnosis for conditions like cancer, which endoscopy procedures help to detect. Simon Barton, the trust's deputy chief executive, expressed the trust's commitment to reducing waiting times for patients, stating that the new unit will treat 9,000 more patients annually and reduce waiting lists by 300 patients every month.
The trust invites the community to share their ideas and suggestions for stories they would like to see covered in Leicester, fostering a collaborative approach to healthcare improvement.
