University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) has begun construction of a £5m aseptic pharmacy facility at Leicester Royal Infirmary to increase capacity for preparing cancer treatments and medicines for clinical research.
The new facility is being developed in the Osborne Building and will include specialist cleanrooms and isolators for the preparation of sterile medicines in controlled environments.
Once operational, the expanded pharmacy will enable the trust to prepare more medicines on site, reducing its reliance on external suppliers and helping meet growing demand for cancer treatments across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The project follows a tender process, with tenders returned and under evaluation by October 2025, according to trust committee minutes.
The scheme was subsequently delayed after costs exceeded the original budget, with the Trust reporting the issue in December 2025.
The Trust has not named the appointed building contractor in its latest announcement.
The project is part of UHL’s future hospitals programme, which aims to modernise hospital facilities and ensure services can meet future patient needs.
It is supported by donations from HOPE Against Cancer, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Leicester Hospitals Charity.
Supporting cancer care and clinical trials
The expanded pharmacy is also intended to support the growth of clinical trials, giving more patients access to innovative therapies closer to home.
“By increasing our capacity to prepare medicines on site, we will be able to provide a more resilient, efficient and high-quality service for patients, while supporting access to new and innovative treatments in the future,” said David Williams, Group Director of Strategy and Business Development at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust & Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
The next phase of the project began on 21 September, with construction expected to continue in stages over the coming months.
UHL said it is working to minimise disruption to patients, visitors and staff during the works.
The new facility will add to the specialist aseptic pharmacy capacity already operating across NHS hospitals, including the service at King’s College Hospital, which prepares more than 100 personalised medicines each day.
The new facility is expected to open in early 2028.
