Ceremony marks start of building work for Cumberland Infirmary’s endoscopy unit

A ceremony has taken place in Carlisle to celebrate the start of building a £15 million endoscopy unit in the grounds of Cumberland Infirmary. Once complete, the unit will be able to treat more patients, helping to reduce waiting lists and improve timely diagnosis, particularly for cancers.

Clinical leaders from the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust were joined by construction partners from Ergea and Actiform and Carlisle MP Julie Minns to mark the start of the work.

Consultant surgeon Mr Daya Karat said: “It’s really good news to see this project underway, as it will have such great benefits for our local communities across north Cumbria and for our staff.

“When it is up and running the new facility will have more clinical rooms that all meet modern standards, which we are not able to meet in the current environment. Expanding our endoscopy service will help us to make faster diagnoses and meet the rising demand for the service. It also brings the unit in line with what we already have at the West Cumberland Hospital following the redevelopment in 2015.”

The new build will include five clinical rooms as well as an outpatient area. Patients will be able to access endoscopy, with 99 per cent of patients receiving their diagnostic procedure within six weeks of referral, in line with national standards.

Accreditation with the national Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy will be achievable, showing best practice and the highest standards.

Mr Karat added: “As well as a better environment for patients, the unit will provide improved training facilities for our staff. Any vacancies we have will be filled mainly with current staff who have expressed an interest in expanding their skills.”

Ergéa UK transformation director John Wilkinson said: “This achievement is the result of our collaborative efforts with the trust, where we identified a cost-effective and rapid solution designed to exceed current requirements for their new endoscopy department.”

The project is expected to be completed by March 2025.

Lead picture: Clinical leaders from the trust were joined at the ceremony by construction partners from Ergea and Actiform and Carlisle MP Julie Minns.

Published on page 8 of the October 2024 issue of RAD Magazine.