Patients across Lincolnshire are set to benefit from faster access to vital diagnostic services as Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust prepares to open a new £26.5 million endoscopy unit this September.
The purpose-built facility represents a major investment in diagnostic healthcare and has been designed to enhance both patient experience and clinical capacity. Situated on the edge of the hospital site off St Anne’s Road, the new unit will replace a 36-year-old modular building that is no longer fit for purpose.
Spanning 1,972 square metres, the state-of-the-art development features a bright and welcoming reception area, private ensuite preparation rooms for patients, four treatment rooms with capacity to expand to six in the future, dedicated staff facilities and training spaces.
Endoscopy services play a critical role in diagnosing a range of conditions, including ulcers, inflammation and cancers. The expanded facility will enable more patients to receive quicker access to diagnostic procedures while benefiting from improved privacy and comfort.
The unit has also been built with sustainability in mind, incorporating energy-efficient design features and landscaped gardens. Dedicated patient parking and a drop-off area have been included to improve accessibility and convenience.
Professor Karen Dunderdale, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, said:
“Our endoscopy diagnostic services can help to detect cancer, so it is vital that we invest in these services to continue to be able to support our patients with fast and comfortable diagnostic services.
“This new unit will enable us to increase our diagnostic capacity, improve patient experience by offering even higher levels of patient privacy and provide a great working environment for our staff.
“The unit has increased the number of procedure rooms we have at Lincoln from three to four, with the potential to add a further two rooms in the future. This will ensure we can meet increasing demand and allow our patients to be seen sooner and in a much nicer state-of-the-art environment.”
The larger facility is expected to significantly boost diagnostic capacity at the hospital, supporting increasing demand for endoscopy services while helping clinicians diagnose conditions earlier and more efficiently.
Construction began in January 2025 on a former staff car park. As part of the project, several trees were removed to facilitate the build. To offset the environmental impact, the hospital partnered with Wilder Doddington to plant replacement trees off-site, while parking spaces were relocated elsewhere on the hospital campus.
The development has also achieved the prestigious Secured by Design Gold Award, recognising its commitment to reducing opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour through effective layout, environmental design and the use of police-approved security measures.
The new endoscopy unit is expected to become a key part of Lincolnshire’s diagnostic infrastructure, helping to improve patient outcomes, increase capacity and provide a modern working environment for healthcare professionals for years to come.
Image credit: Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust
