By Local Democracy Reporter
Rutland County Council is poised to make a landmark investment in the county’s healthcare infrastructure, with a proposal to inject £1.6 million into Rutland Memorial Hospital (RMH). The move, which represents the most significant investment in the local health estate for over a decade, aims to modernise the facility and dramatically expand the range of services available to the county’s 42,000 residents.
The proposal will be presented to the Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 12 May 2026. If approved, the local authority will utilize £1.6 million of its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds specifically collected from housing developers to mitigate the impact of local growth to bankroll the project. This local commitment is set to leverage an additional £650,000 in capital funding from the Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB), bringing the total investment to £2.25 million.
A central pillar of the refurbishment involves the hospital’s diagnostic capabilities. The funding will facilitate a comprehensive overhaul of the X-ray suite, including the installation of a modern X-ray machine. In a significant win for local patients, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has committed to providing a five-day diagnostic service once the works are complete. This restoration of services toward pre-pandemic levels is designed to ensure residents can access essential imaging locally, drastically reducing the need for arduous travel to out-of-county facilities.
The investment also seeks to address the growing pressure on primary care. By doubling the number of GP consultation rooms from three to six, the project will provide much-needed breathing room for Oakham Medical Practice. This physical expansion complements the recent launch of the Rutland Minor Illness and Injury Service on 1 April 2026. This new, streamlined service operates seven days a week with evening opening until 9pm, offering a single, clear point of access for urgent but non-life-threatening care.
Councillor Diane Ellison, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, emphasised that the council’s decision is a direct response to public feedback. Highlighting that RMH is the only community health facility in the county, she noted that residents have consistently ranked local healthcare access as a top priority. According to Cllr Ellison, the investment not only secures the future of the hospital as a fit-for-purpose facility but also aligns with the council's broader mission to tackle health inequalities and support a population that has seen a nine per cent increase in housing over the last decade.
The sentiments were echoed by Pete Burnett, Chief Strategy Officer for the regional ICB, who stated that the additional capital would allow neighbourhood-level care to be improved further. While the council and ICB provide the funding, the delivery of the capital programme will be managed by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust as the estate owner. Should the Cabinet give the green light this month, work is expected to begin in October 2026, with a target completion date of October 2027. Progress will be subject to regular oversight by the Rutland Health & Wellbeing Board to ensure the project remains on track to deliver a "future-proofed" hospital for the community.
