Construction has begun on a new £20m surgical hub in Exeter, aimed at increasing elective care capacity and supporting NHS waiting list recovery across the region.
The facility is being developed at the Heavitree site of the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital and will deliver dedicated operating theatres and recovery areas for both adult and paediatric patients.
Backed by capital funding secured in October 2023, the hub will focus primarily on day-case procedures, enabling more patients to be treated and discharged on the same day while freeing up beds at the trust’s main acute hospital.
The project forms part of a wider £80m programme of investment across the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust estate.
The programme includes upgrades to diagnostic capacity, emergency care facilities, and research infrastructure.
The Trust recently made a £7m investment in on-site energy infrastructure, such as combined heat and power and solar installations.
Health leaders say the new surgical hub will play a central role in improving productivity and restoring performance against national waiting time targets.
The Exeter surgical hub is expected to be completed in 2027 and will provide a flexible clinical environment designed to support higher patient throughput and more efficient surgical pathways.