The NHS Trust of the University Hospitals of Leicester was created in April 2000 with the merger of the Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary.
For 2007/08, the Trust has maintained its excellent rating for Quality of Service issued by the Healthcare Commission.
University Hospitals of Leicester is one of the six biggest NHS trusts in England with a budget of over £600 million per annum and 12,000 staff. It treats in excess of 1 million patients per annum, delivers 10,000 babies a year and provides the largest emergency service (admissions and ED attendances). It has one of the best records in the country for cardiac care and also specialises in kidney disease, cancer and vascular surgery. Its research programmes in cardio-vascular science, stroke medicine and diabetes are internationally renowned.
The trust was created in April 2000 from the merger of Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust, Leicester General Hospital NHS Trust and Leicester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust. It was originally led by Philip Hammersley CBE (Chairman, 2000-06), Dr Peter Reading (Chief Executive, 2000-07) and Dr Allan Cole (Medical Director, 2000-10).
University Hospitals of Leicester achieved the highest possible ranking for service quality from the Healthcare Commission five years running - '3 Stars' in 2003/04 and 2004/05 followed by 'Excellent' from 2005/06 to 2007/08. This is the best five year record of any multi-specialty teaching trust in England, and followed a remarkable turnaround from zero stars in 2002/03 (associated with an administrative error relating to waiting lists for minor surgery), which the Leicester Mercury described as 'zeros to heroes'.
In May 2008 new chief executive, Malcolm Lowe-Lauri, joined the trust from Kings College Hospital. In 2008/09, University Hospitals of Leicester's Healthcare Commission rating slipped to 'Good'.
University Hospitals of Leicester is applying to become a Foundation Trust.