Now, a major investment at Royal Bolton Hospital is set to help meet growing demand and prepare services for the future.
Construction has officially begun on a new multi-million-pound laboratory facility at Royal Bolton Hospital, providing a new home for several vital NHS services.
The purpose-built development will be home to Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s Microbiology, Antenatal Screening and Infection Prevention and Control teams, helping to strengthen diagnostic services across the borough.
The Trust’s laboratories currently carry out more than eight million tests every year, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions for patients across Bolton and beyond.
A ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of construction was held attended by representatives from Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, its estates and facilities partner iFM Bolton Ltd, and construction partner MTX, which is delivering the project.
Andrew Chilton, interim chief finance officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, described the investment as “a significant step forward for healthcare in Bolton”.
He said: “These modern, purpose-built laboratories will help us meet the growing needs of our communities, provide an improved working environment for our staff, and ensure our diagnostic services are equipped to embrace future advances in healthcare.
“By investing in our laboratory infrastructure today, we can ensure our services are sustainable for years to come.”
The new facility is designed not only to improve patient care but also to create a better working environment for NHS staff while helping laboratory services adapt to future developments in healthcare technology.
Fiona McDonnell, managing director of iFM Bolton Ltd, said the project would deliver long-term benefits for local people.
She added: “Working in partnership with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and MTX, we are helping to create a modern facility that will serve patients, staff and local communities long into the future.
“This project represents a major investment in the town’s healthcare infrastructure, and it is exciting to see work now underway on a facility that will make a lasting difference for people in Bolton.”
David Hartley, managing director at MTX Contracts, said the company was looking forward to delivering the new laboratories using modern construction methods.
He said: “We’re proud to be working with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and iFM Bolton to deliver this important new facility.
“We’re looking forward to bringing these vital new laboratories into use faster, greener, safer and more cost-effectively using our hybrid approach to Modern Methods of Construction.”
Work on the development is now underway, with the new laboratory facility expected to be completed in spring 2027.