At the end of October, Ramsay Health Care UK (Ramsay UK) hosted local community leaders Andrew Pakes, Member of Parliament for Peterborough; Mayor Paul Bristow of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Dr Shabina Qayyum, Leader of Peterborough City Council and GP to an exclusive early preview of its brand new facility, Thorpe Wood Hospital, in Peterborough ahead of its planned opening in early Summer 2027.
The visit gave leaders exclusive early access of the new £21.4m facility as construction progresses and offered an opportunity to discuss the role the hospital will play in supporting the local community by expanding healthcare capacity, supporting timely access to care and creating local employment and skills opportunities.
Working alongside nearby Fitzwilliam Hospital, Thorpe Wood Hospital will expand access to elective care with capacity for over 11,500 procedures annually, helping to reduce waiting times and support timely access to care to meet growing demand across the region.
The hospital also represents a long-term investment by Ramsay Health Care UK in Peterborough’s future, creating skilled local employment and training opportunities.
Guests were hosted by Helen Tait, Hospital Director who hosted a tour of the new facility, alongside members of the Ramsay UK Executive Team. The visit gave guests the chance to see what the investment being made will look like, learn more about the hospital’s future services and discuss how Ramsay UK can continue to work in partnership with local authorities, the NHS and other organisations to maximise the benefits of this additional healthcare capacity for patients and communities across the wider region.
Thorpe Wood Hospital will complement and build on the services already provided at nearby Fitzwilliam Hospital. The purpose-built facility will include two laminar flow operating theatres, diagnostic services including MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound, two outpatient minor operations theatres and eight day-case pods.The development builds on Ramsay’s approach at Glendon Wood Hospital in Northamptonshire, a £30 million investment that became operational in 2023.
Thorpe Wood is intended to add regional elective capacity and give commissioners greater flexibility to manage demand across the wider Ramsay network where appropriate.
Nick Costa, Chief Executive Officer at Ramsay UK said:
"This is an exciting milestone for Ramsay UK and for the Peterborough community we are proud to serve since 1983. As demand for healthcare services continues to grow in the local area, Thorpe Wood Hospital will play an important role in increasing access to high-quality care for patients across Peterborough and the surrounding area.
This investment demonstrates our long-term commitment to supporting patients in accessing modern facilities, advanced diagnostic services and excellent clinical care, while also creating valuable employment opportunities within the local community."
Helen Tait, Hospital Director at Fitzwilliam Hospital and soon to be Thorpe Wood Hospital added:
"We were delighted to welcome local leaders to our new hospital to give them a ‘behind the scenes’ preview of the design and thinking that has gone into creating a hospital fit for the future. Their insights and feedback will play a valuable role in our final stages of preparation, ahead of opening the hospital next year. The hospital will be an impressive addition to both the Ramsay Health Care UK Group and the population of Cambridgeshire and beyond."
Following the tour, Mr Pakes also spent time at Fitzwilliam Hospital, meeting with local staff and patients to learn about the impact the hospital already has within the local community. He saw firsthand how Fitzwilliam and Thorpe Wood will work in tandem to provide excellent facilities for all patients and was able to hear from post-surgery patients about their experience from diagnosis through to their treatment.
Reflecting on his visits, Mr Pakes commented:
"It was a pleasure to see the progress at Thorpe Wood Hospital and to spend time with the staff and patients at Fitzwilliam Hospital. Hearing directly from patients about their care, from diagnosis through to recovery, showed how much timely treatment matters to people and their families.
Speeding up NHS treatment and cutting waiting lists is one of my top priorities, and Peterborough needs more capacity to meet growing demand. This investment will help more local people get the operations and scans they need sooner and closer to home. It will also bring skilled jobs and training to our city. I look forward to seeing Ramsay keep working closely with our local NHS, so the benefits reach patients across Peterborough and the wider region."
About Thorpe Wood Hospital
- Thorpe Wood Hospital, based in Peterborough, is part of Ramsay UK, one of the leading providers of independent hospital services in England, with a network of 35 hospitals. These provide a wide and comprehensive range of specialised and efficient clinical specialties from orthopaedics and general surgery to eye surgery.
- Thorpe Wood Hospital is due to open its doors to the local community in Peterborough and beyond mid-2027.