Lewisham Mayor joins our colleagues to launch Lewisham Surgical Centre
Brenda Dacres, Mayor of Lewisham joined LGT colleagues to officially break ground on two new operating theatres to serve south east London patients from the brand-new Lewisham Surgical Centre at University Hospital Lewisham.
This new centre, built and delivered by LGT in partnership with the South East London ICB (Integrated Care Board) will make a huge difference in reducing waiting times for surgery across all of south east London.
Lewisham Surgical Centre will focus on what’s called 'high volume, low complexity' procedures for patients requiring Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgery. ENT has one of the largest specialty waiting lists in the country – over 650,000 as of May 2024 according to NHS data – so the centre is due to be an effective measure to improve access in south east London.
Constructed by expert partners Sisk, the Lewisham Surgical Centre will not just be for Lewisham or Greenwich patients – it’s for everyone who calls south east London home. The Trust is working with the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative (APC) to establish the Surgical Centre, including partners Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
It’s also set to provide employment opportunities for local people for roles like anaesthetics, support staff and administration, as well as requiring the recruitment of over 30 new nurses. The Centre is set to begin operation in late 2025.
Attendees to the event experienced a ‘four dimensional’ virtual tour of the facility, donning virtual reality headsets to ‘tour’ the over 860 square metre centre, which sits on the foundations of the Victorian-era hospital that once stood on the Lewisham High Street site. Time lapse footage of the construction work was also screened.
Brenda Dacres, Mayor of Lewisham, said: “It’s been a pleasure to see Lewisham Surgical Centre take shape today and to meet just some of the dedicated colleagues who will be working there. Investments like this are vital to an NHS that’s fit for the future – Lewisham Surgical Centre is going to be such a breakthrough for patients both here in Lewisham and further afield in south London.”
In his own remarks, our Chief Executive Ben Travis said: “I want to pay tribute to the many people – colleagues, partners and patients who have shared their views – who have got Lewisham Surgical Centre to where it is today. We can’t wait to open this state-of-the-art facility up and start working in partnership to bring down those ENT waiting lists.”
Steven McGee, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Sisk, said: “Sisk is delighted to be appointed and break ground at University Lewisham Hospital. We have been enhancing our healthcare offering over the past couple of years with some key appointments, in order to improve our capability in the healthcare sector. We look forward to working with our local supply chain partners to deliver a world class facility and creating a lasting legacy for the communities of Lewisham and Greenwich.”
Lewisham Surgical Centre:
- Will cover over 860 square metres – that’s over two and a half full-sized basketball courts!
- Sits on the foundations of the Victorian-era hospital that once stood here – it will use the same footings, low walls and undercroft.
- Is the product of a £13.5 million investment into tackling the backlog in planned ENT care.
