Leeds hospital unit may never re-open with new £10m centre being proposed as replacement

The unit, at Wharfedale Hospital in Otley, could be officially closed forever in January as a new £10m centre, featuring two new operating theatres, is proposed to be built in its place.

However, staff departures meant the endoscopy unit was closed “temporarily” in June, as it was deemed unsafe to keep it open. It has remained out of action ever since.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT), which runs Wharfedale Hospital, now intends to move all of its endoscopy services to Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and St James’ University Hospital (SJUH).

The move and the plans to build the new elective treatment hub remain subject to consultation with staff – a process which concludes at the end of this week.

Should the trust press ahead with the plans, it’s likely the endoscopy unit has seen its last patients, given the impracticality of hiring and training new staff to man a unit for just a few weeks.

In a briefing paper going before Leeds City Council’s health scrutiny committee next week, the trust said: “The endoscopy service at Wharfedale Hospital is a relatively small – but well thought of – service that cares for a relatively small number of patients (who aren’t all exclusively from Otley area post code).

“As a diagnostic service, patients do not attend the Endoscopy service at Wharfedale Hospital on an ongoing or regular basis.

It added: “The endoscopy service is and will continue to be provided at LTHT’s other main hospital sites LGI and SJUH.

“The locations of the main sites have good road / bus and train connectivity and are therefore accessible for patients requiring the endoscopy service.”

Last month, the trust asked for public feedback on its plans to build the non-emergency treatment hub, which it says will help tackle the huge NHS waiting lists that have emerged since Covid.

The centre would offer operations for minor cancers, urology and benign gynaecology as well as general surgery.

If the scheme goes ahead, it’s expected the hub would be up and running by either the end of 2023 or the start of 2024.

Feedback can be submitted via this link until Thursday, September 22.