Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE MP visited Harrogate District Hospital on Friday, 27 June, to meet with Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) Chief Executive Jonathan Coulter and learn more about the hospital’s pioneering work in digital healthcare and innovation.
The visit, which included discussions about healthcare access for residents in the Ripon and Harrogate areas of Julian's constituency, included a tour of key developments at the hospital.
During the visit, Julian met with Consultant Rheumatologist and Clinical Lead for Innovation, Dr Gui Tran, to discuss the Trust’s forward-thinking approach. Julian then toured the hospital's Wensleydale Ward, a Cardiology Respiratory ward, to learn about the ward's new nurse call system and its positive impact on patient care outcomes.
Following this, Julian was briefed on the Hospital's new Day Case Surgery and Imaging Centre, currently under construction and due to open in 2026, by Matt Graham - HDFT's Director of Strategy. The new two-storey facility will deliver cutting-edge surgical and imaging care, featuring two modern operating theatres, two procedure rooms, a dedicated day case ward, and a state-of-the-art imaging suite.
Commenting on his visit, Julian said: “It was great to visit Harrogate District Hospital and see first-hand the fantastic work being done to improve patient care through innovation and digital transformation. These developments will make a real difference to residents in the wider Harrogate and Ripon area. I am grateful to Jonathan Coulter and the team at Harrogate Hospital for taking the time to show me around and for their continued hard work delivering outstanding healthcare services.”
