The initial announcement that the Friarage was to be one of the 50-plus new surgical hubs across England was made in August 2022 and now, following final approval of the detailed plans from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, building on the £35.5million state-of-the-art surgical facility is set to begin in March.
The plans for the new facility have been led by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s experienced clinicians and will see the hospital’s six existing operating theatres replaced with a modern surgical hub that will include six main operating theatres, two minor operating theatres, and a surgical admission and day hub.
The NHS needs to increase capacity to support patients whose non-urgent care has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Friarage development is one of more than 50 new surgical hubs that are being created across the country.
Mike Stewart, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s chief medical officer, said: “We are delighted that the plans for significant investment in the creation of a surgical hub at the Friarage have been given final approval.
Replacing the hospital’s ageing theatre block with a modern and expanded surgical hub will ensure the world-class care our clinicians deliver is matched by world-class facilities for decades to come.”