Work on a day case unit in Hinckley is set to begin after the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) extended the deadline for spending the allocated funding until March 2026 to enable its delivery.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) said this meant that preparation work on the new facility, which will cost £10.5million, could start in the coming weeks.
The new day case unit will be built on the existing Hinckley and District Hospital site and it will be linked to the new community diagnostic centre.
It will cater for a wider range of clinical specialities – such as breast care, general surgery, gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, pain management, plastic surgery, podiatric surgery, renal access surgery, urology and vascular surgery – in more modern facilities.
Work will now begin at the site to remove asbestos from the building so that it can be safely demolished before the new centre is built.
The removal work is expected to be completed by March 2025.
In the meantime, the ICB will be preparing a planning application early next year for the new modular build.
Sarah Prema, chief strategy officer at LLR ICB, said: ‘This is fantastic news for the people of Hinckley and surrounding areas.
‘The DHSC decision to extend funding for the project into 2026 will enable delivery of a modern, fit-for-purpose day case unit for the local population allowing care to be delivered closer to home.’
She added that the ICB would continue to work closely with the planning department of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council before submitting a planning application.
Bill Cullen, chief executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said: ‘We welcome the continued positive work with our NHS colleagues to ensure investment in new health facilities in Hinckley for the benefit of residents in the borough.’
