Trust reveals how £1.5m fund to improve Wigan's hospitals will be spent

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of 178 trusts nationwide set to receive a share of £600m to tackle their maintenance backlogs.

It will get £1,515,000 to spend on 25 projects, covering critical maintenance and improvement works.

Outdated ventilation plant and controls at Thomas Linacre Centre will be replaced and water systems at Wigan Infirmary and Wrightington Hospital will be upgraded.

Leaking flat roofs at Wrightington Hospital, Wigan Infirmary and Thomas Linacre Centre will be replaced, and a trust-wide window replacement programme will start at Wrightington and Leigh Infirmary.

Other work includes a new boiler plant at Wrightington, improved cafe at Wigan, and a fire alarm and emergency lighting upgrade at Leigh.

Medical gas systems plants will also be replaced at all sites.

David Evans, the trust’s director of estates and facilities, said: “I am delighted that the Government has recognised the importance of additional investment to help us address the on-going condition backlog issues across the trust’s estate.

“The NHS estate is both extensive and complex with many of our buildings and engineering services being built and installed many years ago.

“Ongoing investment in the estate is critical in ensuring compliant, high quality and reliable facilities for our clinical teams to treat patients and the continued commitment to fund these critical maintenance and improvement works is welcomed.”

The national investment is part of £1.5 billion capital funding announced in the summer, which includes plans to modernise mental health facilities, expand A&E capacity and improve infection control ahead of winter.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Alongside delivering on our manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals and 20 major hospital upgrades across the country, this investment will help our NHS build back better.

“These crucial maintenance projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to their patients this winter, helping ensure the NHS is always there for you when you need it.”

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