Building Better Healthcare’s Post

Plans to build or expand 40 hospitals in England have been delayed by at least a decade, following Wes Streeting's announcement yesterday confirming a new timeline for the New Hospital Programme. https://lnkd.in/etvxnb8S

https://lnkd.in/eMfmnmUg The New Hospital Programme (NHP) under this government promises to correct the mistakes of the past by delivering this project within the budget and time frames. This is the type of projects I would like to contribute to as the NHP could really make a difference in our communities by relieving the pressure on the NHS. What do you think ?

Back in 2019 when the then Government announced it would deliver ‘40 new hospitals by 2030', there was a degree of cynicism about how realistic the plan was, and whether many of the projects could really be classified as new builds. A leaked government 'playbook' - reported by Health Service Journal in 2021 - on how to describe the projects added to the concern. Over time, that cynicism has understandably increased and yesterday we saw what felt inevitable for many months - that the New Hospital Programme would need to be reset. The upshot from Wes Streeting's announcement to Parliament yesterday is that the remaining schemes in the programme that were waiting for the go ahead will be allocated to one of three 'wave' groups: ✔️ Wave 1 schemes are expected to begin construction between 2025 and 2030. These schemes include hospitals constructed primarily using RAAC, and have been prioritised as patient and staff safety is paramount. ✔️ Wave 2 schemes are expected to start between 2030 and 2035. ✔️ Wave 3 schemes are expected to start between 2035 and 2039. 📆 On the one hand, the revised timetable feels more realistic and credible and the government will now be held to account for delivering against it. We should also remember that it provided extra capital investment in the last #Budget But on the other hand, it cannot be underestimated how much of a blow this is to patients, NHS staff and those leaders who have had their projects delayed by years. They have to continue to make do in very difficult conditions. At NHS Confederation we've been hearing from many members over the last 24 hours who are deeply disappointed about the outcome. Their concerns fall into three categories: 1️⃣ Ongoing risks to patient safety. 2️⃣ The negative impact this will have on reducing waiting lists and improving productivity. 3️⃣ The ongoing costs of maintaining old buildings. One member says the delay will add up to £150m to the cost of their new hospital as they will have more years of propping up an old building. As Lord Darzi said in his government review of the #NHS , the NHS has been starved of capital in the last decade, with £37 billion of under-investment. We are left with many hospitals that have leaking pipes and collapsed roofs, and that's not to mention the huge impact on mental health, community and primary care estates. So, while the reset of the NHP was much needed, this is a huge setback to the sector and will have significant consequences across the country. It also again shows that our current approach to allocating scarce capital investment is grossly inefficient and in need of reform. To help restore the public and NHS staff confidence that will be damaged by this, the government needs to stick to the revised timetable and deliver on its commitments. NHS Confederation Acute Care Director Rory Deighton has been making these points on behalf of our members in the national media today, including on BBC News this morning.

Our Healthcare Leads were reflecting recently on some of the work that P+HS Architects have delivered to improve facilities for Maternity Services. Having seen Maternity Services across the country struggling in recent years with outdated facilities and staff shortages it is good to highlight these positive stories from Sharon Cook demonstrating where good stakeholder engagement and intelligent design have transformed facilities for the better with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It’s not always the big budget schemes that make a difference either! Good design principles combined with clinical insight produce valuable outcomes across a range of project scales. #healthcare #design #maternity #enhancinglives

🚧 Exciting milestone for the new Melton Hospital! 🚧  Site preparation works for the new hospital, delivered as a Public Private Partnership, will begin shortly, marking a major step toward bringing essential healthcare infrastructure to Melbourne’s fast-growing outer west.    As Victoria’s first fully electric hospital, the new Melton Hospital will provide critical services, including 24-hour emergency care, maternity and neonatal support, intensive care, mental health services, and more. The new hospital will improve accessibility to health services and enhance outcomes for the people of Melton and the broader region.     AECOM has proudly supported the Victorian Health Building Authority and Western Health from the master plan and feasibility stage, through to providing technical advisory services to the state in its Public Private Partnership procurement. We are thrilled to continue in the state advisor role supporting this transformative project as it progresses into the delivery phase, ensuring it meets the healthcare needs of Melbourne’s growing population.    Together, we are playing a role in delivering a world-class hospital for the Melton and outer west communities.  #HealthInfrastructure #MeltonHospital #AECOM #EngineeringExcellence #PublicHealth

🏥 180 year old buildings, failing power systems, and flooded operating theatres - this is the everyday reality for NHS trusts facing a 15 year wait for new hospitals. While some trusts have received confirmation of near-term development in this week's New Hospital Programme announcement, others face the sobering reality of managing critical healthcare services in crumbling infrastructure until the 2040s. Many of the largest and most complex hospital builds - often serving as major trauma centers and providing specialist care for high demand areas - have been placed in the final wave, creating particular challenges for these vital regional centers. Estates teams are already performing daily miracles to keep services running, while clinical teams deliver care in buildings that work against them rather than support them. While the timeline for new buildings may be extended, we believe fresh perspectives combined with practical experience can still help improve care delivery and working conditions for staff, even in these most challenging of environments. And with our senior team of former DHSC and NHS consultants at MH&A, we look forward to partnering with trusts to tackle these unprecedented challenges together. #NHSInfrastructure #HealthcareConsulting #NHSTransformation #HospitalBuilds #NHS #NHSFunding

Finegreen are working with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to appoint a Deputy Chief Estates and Facilities Officer - Capital. #NHSJobs #HealthcareJobs https://lnkd.in/eFYEKCwM

😱 Can you believe this is a modular facility? Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is becoming increasingly adopted in the NHS, thanks to the enhanced speed of delivery it can offer. But did you know that modular facilities can also be procured via flexible financial solutions? Take a look at the work we did alongside modular specialists McAvoy, where we implemented the finance solution for 2 no. 48-bed ward facilities for Good Hope Hospital and Heartlands Hospital, part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. 🔗https://lnkd.in/gViN-uMC If you’re wondering what a modular facility *really* looks like… scroll no further👇 #modularconstruction #healthcareconstruction #procurement

💻 BLOG | With NHS Trusts across the UK are facing increasing costs due to facility repairs. Karl Cundill Joint Managing Director of LitmusFM breaks down how Facility Managers can tackle these issues whilst remaining within available budgets. Read now: https://lnkd.in/eMvZrcpF  #facilitiesmanagement #nhs #managementconsultancy 

With part of the former Grafton Gaol site secured, modern spaces for administration, training and support services are being created, allowing clinical care to remain at the heart of Grafton Base Hospital.   The $263.8 million hospital redevelopment will enhance emergency, imaging and acute care services for the Grafton and surrounding communities.   Learn more at https://lnkd.in/d_cezX6M.