Acute Services Block and New Ward Block

At the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital site, we are planning development of an Acute Services Block and New Ward Block consisting of:

  • Maternity services – delivery suite, 3 operating theatres, midwifery led birthing unit, triage, bereavement
  • NICU – intensive care, high dependency care, special care, transitional care, parental accommodation
  • Critical Care – a 22 bed critical care floor
  • Surgical arrivals and recovery
  • Operating theatres – 8 new operating theatres, including two hybrid theatres, first stage recovery 2.  Maternity Ward Block
  • A maternity ward block with maternity wards (antenatal and postnatal) and pre-operative lounge

Through this work, we will be able to:

  • Tackle backlog maintenance and reduce risk in the highest risk areas (Critical care, Maternity, NICU and Theatres)
  • Enable transformation of elective surgery through colocation of theatres
  • Address national workforce challenges through a modern, flexible design
  • Increase capacity
  • Improve sustainability and efficiency
  • Maintain and improve quality standards – Support patient-centred clinical services, with care delivered in modern, uplifting and fit for purpose environments
  • Enable advances in medicine and technology

To allow work to progress on this site, a number of enabling works have been carried out since 2020. This includes

  • Relocation of approximately 450 members of staff to a new location
  • Upgraded electrical infrastructure
  • Transfer of outpatient services to nearby Travelodge (obesity and rheumatology – Zone T)
  • Demolition of office block
  • Relocation of internal services
  • Relocation of our Outpatient admin centre, to an off-site location near to the hospital
  • Time critical enabling schemes across the site e.g. roadways, demolition

All these schemes are key to deliver excellent clinical outcomes, improve patient safety and enhance the patient experience.