Carefoot has begun work on a £6.4 m new endoscopy unit in Wigan, Greater Manchester after completing a £6.5 m project at nearby Leigh to build a new surgery theatre and community diagnostic centre in recent weeks.
The two hospital extensions are being delivered for Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to improve diagnosis, reduce waiting times, and increase care capacity across the Wigan borough. Carefoot is principal contractor for the endoscopy unit at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, and began on site at the end of January following planning approval. The project involves building a four-storey steel-framed extension to the hospital’s Grade II listed façade, plus major refurbishment works to the current ground-floor, totalling around 1,400 m2.
The project at Leigh Infirmary involved the construction of a 1,350 m2 new-build extension to the hospital to add a new elective theatre and community diagnosis centre, which is now welcoming its first patients, having been completed in December 2023.
Colin Carefoot, Carefoot’s CEO, said: “As a company, we’ve been working with the NHS on healthcare construction projects for over 70 years, and in addition to these two major extensions, which will improve healthcare capacity across the Wigan borough, we’re currently involved in multiple hospital projects across the North West.
“The project at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan is particularly challenging, as the extension is adjacent to three live areas of a very busy hospital. However, our team has the experience and knowledge to manage the construction process in a way which minimises the impact on the Trust and its patients.” The two projects have been funded with £11.9 m from NHS England.
Richard Mundon, director of Strategy and Planning at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “These developments will certainly help futureproof our facilities, address expected increases in population demand, and play a significant role in reducing health inequalities across the Wigan borough. This can only lead to improved outcomes for our patients across a wide range of services, which is fantastic news for us as a Trust, but also for the wider community.”
The Wigan endoscopy unit was designed by Manchester-based DAY Architectural and is expected to be completed in Summer 2025. O’Neil and Partners, Bradshaw Gass & Hope, and Pettit Singleton Associates, are consultants on the project.
Carefoot explained: “The new community diagnostic centre and elective theatre at Leigh Infirmary are part of a raft of Trust plans to modernise the facilities and increase capacity.”
These facilities were designed by Chorley-based architects, Gilling Dod, while consultants on the project included Steven A Hunt & Associates, Sutcliffe, and Rider Hunt.
