Wigan Infirmary to get new wing to help reduce patient waiting times

The hospital will be given a four-storey extension to its endoscopy unit.

Endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure which uses a camera tube inside the body to check for any problems.

This project will help improve waiting times for patients, according to Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL), which was awarded £11.9m from NHS England last year to bring in two new developments at Wigan and Leigh Infirmaries.

The extension to the Wigan site would see the relocation of existing rooms in order to improve the experience for patients and working conditions for staff. It will see the north face of the Grade II listed building added to.

It will incorporate an endoscopy facility, including endoscopy rooms, recovery areas, waiting room, toilets (for staff and patients), office space, consultants’ offices, storage and ancillary facility space and a plant room.

WWL’s departing chief executive officer, Silas Nicholls said previously: “This funding will help us increase the number of endoscopy rooms at Leigh from three to six, as well as upgrading the current facilities at Wigan future proofing our facilities, and addressing the expected increases in population demand.

“Projects like these will ultimately play a significant role in reducing health inequalities across the Wigan borough and improving outcomes for our patients across our wide range services.”

The new unit would also bring with it the potential to offer bowel screening lists in Wigan for the first time, giving patients in and around the borough the choice of either Wigan or Leigh for this service.

There is currently no designation for the upper floors of the proposed development – but it is thought this would be used for the enhancement and expansion of hospital services.