This has released capacity for the Trust to care for critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19. Additionally, nine ventilators and ten anaesthetic machines were moved into the NHS Trust’s own hospitals from Nuffield Health Leeds to support COVID-19 patients.

Speaking about the collaboration with Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital, Dr Mark Liddington, Medical Director for Planned Care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: "The dedicated coordination between both Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital has helped ensure the rapid treatment for very sick patients who need urgent treatment. Having an independent hospital just literally down the road with the capabilities to support us with these surgical cases has enabled us to care for critically ill medical patients during the peak of the pandemic. Our sincere thanks go out to all those at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital involved with setting up this support for the Trust".

Maria Robinson, Hospital Director at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital, said: "I’m so proud of all of our team members who have played their part to organise and facilitate the highly specialised surgery we have undertaken for the NHS Trust."

"Having the capability to facilitate such major surgery in an independent hospital is quite rare, but thanks to our experienced teams and our intensive care unit, we’ve been able to care for people with complex heart and liver conditions in our local community."


The teams at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital have also been supporting the Trust with the roll out of the vaccination programme. Lorraine Midgley, Senior Healthcare Assistant at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital, has been supporting the NHS vaccination centres at Elland Road Vaccination Centre (Leeds United FC’s Centenary Pavilion) and the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds. Read more about Lorraine’s experience here.