• Four brand new theatres open in Bolton
• Extra theatre capacity will help with waiting lists
• Multi-million pound investment into Royal Bolton Hospital site

A brand new state-of-the-art theatre complex has opened on the Royal Bolton Hospital site in Farnworth.

The new £19.6m Elective Care Centre, which opened to patients on Monday 15 January, has four theatres which will be used to help with waiting lists.

Approximately 5,000 patients will be helped in the new theatres by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust staff each year.

Annette Walker, Chief Finance Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

It is absolutely brilliant to see this fantastic new facility open on time and on schedule.

“The increase in Bolton’s theatre capacity will make such a difference for the experience our patients receive, and help bring down the number of people waiting for their operation.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how these theatres improve the lives of people in Bolton and beyond.

The four ultra-modern theatres have been designed to work flexibly and adapt for inpatient and day case adult patients.

Day case surgeries includes ear nose and throat, oral, urology and general specialities.

The first three patients treated in the new centre had surgery for breast cancer, ear, nose and throat surgery and oral surgery.

As well as the four new theatres, two integrated wards have also been built as part of the development.

Patients who use the new theatres are asked to use the existing car parks on the Royal Bolton Hospital site, with the nearest car park located between the new theatres and the Princess Anne maternity unit.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust have staffed the new theatres in part through its theatre academy project, in collaboration with the University of Bolton.