Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 8 July
July 8, 2022
After months of intense scrutiny over the construction programme for the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, I am pleased that this week we have been able to announce the confirmed arrangements with Balfour Beatty to ensure the building is completed before the end of 2023. As you know there have been many factors impacting on the development, not least the COVID-19 pandemic and issues affecting the construction industry and supply chain. This review, that has been led by the national New Hospital Programme team, enables us to reset our planning so that we can ensure we are on track to open in Spring 2024. We continue to have support from the national team as the building continues to progress, and we welcome their expertise.
It is down to us to continue to press ahead with the significant transformation required across many of our clinical services. The acute care model has been designed and approved. By now each service should be clear on what the move to MMUH means, and what changes need to be made so that we can be ready in time for opening. We have the funding agreed for the first phase of recruitment to around 100 new posts that are required to meet the needs of our patients. The next part of the workforce plan is to put in place the arrangements to manage these changes in the right way, so that everyone is engaged, informed and has opportunities to contribute. Although your service or team may not be changing significantly, all of us will be affected by this new model of care.
Midland Met is and always will be “more than a hospital”. For the hospital to work well, we need to make sure that we have the right investment in community services and primary care that are supporting people in their own homes or in community settings wherever possible. Some of the biggest transformations will be in those services.
We took the opportunity this week to celebrate the NHS birthday by sharing more information about Midland Met. Hopefully those of you who managed to grab an ice cream also had the chance to talk to a colleague about the new hospital. Staff Q&A sessions, “lunch and learns” and information in your areas will continue to be shared so that you can keep up to date.
Wellbeing activities have also been at the forefront of this week’s events demonstrating the range of support that is on offer to all colleagues whether that is to keep you healthy, kick start your own wellbeing programme or signpost you to further help and advice.
The highlight of the NHS Birthday celebrations for me has been to see and read the amazing cards and letters of thanks that have been written for our NHS by pupils at our local primary and secondary schools. Amidst our often challenged working days it can be easy to lose sight of the immense gratitude, respect and admiration that people hold for all who work in our Trust and for the NHS as a whole. I will leave you with just a snapshot of these heart-warming messages that we will get displayed across the Trust.
“Thank you for your services to Great Britain. You save hundreds of lives every day by putting your lives on the line to do so.”
“You invest your blood, sweat and tears into the heartbeat of this country.”
“We used to clap on our doorsteps for you but we are still clapping even if you don’t see it. What would we do without you?”
“My younger brother has spent many times in hospital and the NHS have helped us massively. You deserve the world for the hundreds of lives you have saved.”
Happy NHS Birthday to all of you!
Richard