The Elective Care Hub in Otley, West Yorkshire, which includes operating theatres and wards, will create capacity away from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's main acute hospital sites, increasing the number of patients that can be treated each week.

Professor Phil Wood, chief executive at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: ‘The hub increases protected space and theatres to see planned-in patients, enhancing their experience and meaning we can see more patients more quickly.

‘This investment underlines our commitment to provide the right kinds of services at Wharfedale Hospital and ensuring it has a sustainable future. It's fantastic news for the Otley community as well as our patients from further afield and our staff.'

The hub, which will serve an estimated additional 3,500 people per year, will also provide extra capacity for teams from Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, who alongside Leeds Teaching Hospitals, secured NHS England funding to support post-Covid recovery works.

The unit, which includes two new theatres, a recovery area, an admissions and discharge area, provides operations, including general surgery, minor cancers, urology and benign gynaecology.

Other improvements include day unit and phlebotomy services moving into refurbished areas and a dedicated hysteroscopy treatment suite.