Construction begins on new £20m surgical hub in Exeter

Work has officially started on a multi-million pound "centre of excellence" designed to slash NHS waiting lists in Devon.

The £20m surgical hub, located at the Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) Heavitree site, will provide dedicated operating theatres and recovery spaces for both children and adults.

The project is part of a wider £80m investment aimed at modernising the region's healthcare estate over the next three years.

ABOVE: New pipework being installed at the RD&E Heavitree site. Image: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Funding for the Heavitree hub was secured in October 2023 via capital investment from NHS England. The facility will focus on day surgeries, allowing patients to undergo procedures and return home the same day, freeing up beds in the main acute hospital.

Chris Tidman, Deputy Chief Executive of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said the hub was "central" to the trust’s recovery plan.

"Patients are still waiting longer than we would like for treatment and this hub is central to us seeing more patients and returning to national waiting time standards," Mr Tidman said.

He added that the new environment would be "modern and flexible" for both staff and patients.

The Heavitree development is one of several projects currently underway across the trust's sites in Exeter, Barnstaple, and Bideford.

Other planned improvements include:

• New Diagnostic Centres: A new site in Bideford and three additional scanners at the Nightingale Hospital Exeter.

• Emergency Care: Enhanced "Same-Day" emergency facilities at both the Exeter and Barnstaple hospitals.

• North Devon Upgrades: A new NIHR research hub and updated hospital residences at North Devon District Hospital.

The trust stated that the total investment of over £80m is intended to create a more "efficient" service, as the NHS continues to face significant pressure on elective care recovery.