Hinchingbrooke Redevelopment: Investing in Theatres

Our plans to redevelop Hinchingbrooke are continuing as we create a new, purpose-built operating theatres block located between the main hospital site and the Treatment Centre.

This build, worth c. £30m, is being built by Graham Construction. The new theatres form the second phase of the ongoing redevelopment of the site and follows the completion of refurbished urgent care facilities in November 2020. The new block is designed to replace the theatres in the main hospital building, which are coming to the end of their operational life cycle. This will include 7 state-of-the-art operating theatres, dedicated recovery area with a paediatric recovery zone, an isolation room, for any patients who may be infectious, dedicated same-sex spaces, reception area and a large staff area with panoramic windows to create a relaxing place for staff to step away and have a break.

Jason Knaepel, Divisional Operations Manager for Theatres, said: “Our staff have been pivotal in the design of the new theatres and our focus has been to create a futureproof theatre that improves the experience for our patients and for our staff. 

“We have created an environment which will provide a positive patient experience and meticulously planned the layout so that certain areas are next to each other to provide an efficient and seamless service. Each operating theatre is much larger to provide the ability to incorporate robotics in the future required, and an environment where we can train staff for the future. Audio-visual capabilities are being built in to support training and to ensure future proofing. We will also have moving and handling hoists which will help to position patients safely and minimise the burden on our staff when patients need lifting.”

Find out more about the redevelopment of our Main Theatres Block on our microsite here.