Seizing the once in a lifetime opportunity to transform care – an update from Chairman, Sir David Nicholson

April 22, 2022

The development of the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH) is the kind of event that will usually only happen once if at all in a person’s career in healthcare. The new hospital is a game changer in how we deliver care and will create a fantastic environment for patients that we can all be proud of. One of the main reasons I took on the role to become your Trust Chair was to help contribute to the opening of this wonderful hospital. 

But, of course, MMUH is not just about a shiny new building for acute care. We are after all #morethanahospital. MMUH is a whole scale transformation on how care is delivered. It will only work if we get the right support in place for people at home. That means transformation within our community and primary care services, as they develop innovative new ways of working across sectors and organisations, to provide a network of care, wrapped around people at home. Services in the community are where we should expect to see the biggest transformation.  

The MMUH programme is, of course, complex. Balfour Beatty are building a truly unique hospital facility. The design is innovative and based around key principles of a building that impacts lightly on the environment, that supports patients to be independent, and that breaks down barriers between NHS institutions and the communities we serve. 

MMUH has, too, had more than its fair share of delays and disruption, with the collapse of our first contractor, a redesigned financial model, a new construction partner, altered cladding requirements and a global pandemic. Yet, despite all this, the building itself is in really good shape. Work has continued to progress at pace; wards, departments and rooms are being completed and signed off to the required standards; and we can begin to see the positive impact the hospital will have on its patients and all those who visit or work there. 

In March and April, the Trust Board has the opportunity to review in detail the clinical pathways and associated workforce and financial requirements. The nearer we get to opening, the more precise we can be about these plans that take account of the changes in relation to COVID-19 plus the new roles and innovation that we can adopt to make sure our services are at the forefront of a modern NHS. 

We have the benefit of additional expertise from the national new hospital programme team. That team have been working alongside ourselves and Balfour Beatty to review the construction programme and to set out a realistic forward view to inform our plans.  Once their work is completed, we will be able to share our opening date with confidence. Our focus must remain on getting ready for a move in May 2023. We cannot be the reasons for any delay.  

We are truly fortunate to have this brand new hospital that will open in the very near future. It is a once in a lifetime development that will change how we deliver care for millions of people for generations to come. MMUH has the full support of the government, the national NHS team and of course, this Trust Board. Whatever is needed to complete and open the building will be provided. Of this, you should have no doubt. 

Your Trust Board will continue to support the Trust teams in ensuring that the building progresses at pace and that we carry on refining our plans so that, come opening day, we are ready to make the most of this new opportunity, transforming care for all within our local communities.