Heartbeat: Leaders assemble to agree regeneration plans to boost health
February 21, 2023
The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH) is the largest new hospital development currently under construction in the English NHS making it a catalyst for regeneration in Sandwell and West Birmingham.
To ensure all partners capitalise on that fact, notable public sector leaders from across the area met recently to agree the strategy to maximise the potential of the opportunity that MMUH offers.
The session focussed on how the MMUH can contribute to wider economic and social regeneration of the surrounding area, thereby creating a positive benefit to the long-term health of the local population.
Chaired by Sir David Nicholson KBE, Trust Chair, the event was attended by Andy Street, WM Mayor; the leader, and senior officers of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council; members and officers from Birmingham City Council; the CEOs of the two NHS Integrated Care Boards that the Trust serves; Transport for West Midlands and senior officers of the Trust.
Speaking following the meeting Sir David explained: “Our new hospital is due to open in 2024 and already we have ensured local employment opportunities on the build, with many more to come. We know that access to jobs and improving economic conditions creates better health outcomes for local populations, so we have always been committed to ensuring the MMUH delivers both on improved wealth and health.”
Richard Beeken, CEO continued: “Our Trust’s purpose is about improving life chances and health outcomes, not just treating the sick, and we’re going to do that through delivering three objectives around Patients, People and Population. The MMUH offers opportunities to deliver on all three objectives, getting the fundamentals of care right, providing the best environment for our people to deliver their best care in and giving our population access to a facility and wider impact that is designed to add life to years, not just years to life.”
All partners have signed up to a common statement of intent which declares: “The partners agree to collaborate to deliver improved health and well-being via a programme of initiatives and regeneration projects which will lead to improved life chances and a consequential reduction in inequality for our respective populations”.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This is a truly exciting development with a forward thinking vision that brings together health, education and the arts all in one place. The acute hospital building will sit alongside a university campus and accessible outdoor public spaces hosting wellbeing activities will complement a substantial arts programme that is already underway. By working together in this innovative and cross-sector manner, we will be able to change the lives of local people for the better in the months and years ahead. I cannot wait to see this project come to fruition and make a real difference.”