The Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) welcomed Jo Platt, the MP for Leigh and Atherton, to open the theatre in what it describes as an ‘exciting development’.
The new theatre will be ‘the trust’s centre for breast surgery’, with a new ‘state-of-the art, ultra-clean theatre’.
There is also a new recovery area that accommodates patients from all four theatres.
The trust said these improvements are set to shorten the wait times for patients.
Mary Fleming, chief executive of WWL, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Jo Platt to Leigh Infirmary and show her the transformation and investment we have made to the site.
“As well as the new theatre, we have ensured that we have created new and improved staff and patient facilities, which have been a real boost to staff and the patient feedback received has been incredibly positive.
“I’m so proud of the new facilities and the staff here who are helping to get our patients seen as quick as possible and provide more accessible treatment options for patients not just from the Wigan Borough but also across GM.”
MP Jo Platt, middle at the opening (Image: WWL)
The site currently offers procedures across a range of specialities including ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat, dental, gynaecology, general surgery, breast, urology, colorectal, plastics, vascular, and pain management.
It is also set to expand its cataract surgery capacity.
Jo Platt MP said: “It has been an honour to be invited to Leigh Infirmary to open this fabulous new development.
“I would like to thank all the staff for giving me the opportunity to visit and see the fantastic services they provide.
MP Jo Platt (Image: WWL)
“Everyone often talks about the pressures on the NHS, but it is investments such as this that will help to reduce the demand and help patients to be seen quicker.”
Over the past 15 months, 1,942 additional procedures have been conducted at Leigh Infirmary.
The hospital has also been accredited as a Surgical Hub, one of only four in Greater Manchester.
