An ambitious plan to transform the delivery of health and care services in North Manchester and the surrounding boroughs is set to benefit from £54m of government funding, paving the way for the total redevelopment of the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site.
Manchester City Council, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust are working together on a vision for a new high quality and sustainable campus at NMGH, which creates the best environment for healthy living, specialist care and a focus for training and jobs for local people.
The successful £54m funding bid was made through the Department of Health and Social Care’s Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP), a major national initiative to invest in replacing and improving healthcare facilities. It will allow enabling works such as a multi-storey car park, temporary accommodation for admin staff and other site preparation activity to go ahead this autumn. By preparing the site for full development, once the blueprint and final funding for the redevelopment of the hospital site is agreed in early 2021, rebuilding work can quickly begin.
The current NMGH site needs radical redesign and investment to provide high quality services and a modern, joined-up care system. Independent assessments have identified that over 70% of the existing estate is in desperate need of rebuilding.
NMGH is the principal healthcare facility for North Manchester and the surrounding boroughs and provides employment to over 2,000 people, many of whom live locally. The vision for the redevelopment – known as the Strategic Regeneration Framework – is to create a focal point for the community with integrated health and social care facilities, high quality new homes and access to better education and training, alongside more inviting public open spaces.
Sir Michael Deegan, Chief Executive of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, welcomed the funding award and its impact on delivery of the hospital site redevelopment:
“We have an ambitious vision to improve health and wellbeing for communities across North Manchester over the next 10 to 15 years. This initial £54m investment will enable the massive rebuilding programme to begin sooner and reduce the overall time it takes to complete. Regeneration of the NMGH site is fundamental to tackling the high levels of ill-health and disability affecting local people, delivering once in a generation, transformational change.”
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, added: “This is a vital and very welcome step along the road to delivering a transformed North Manchester General Hospital.
“The importance of this project to the city cannot be overstated. Not only will it improve patient care and services but it will also support health and wellbeing in the wider area.
“The huge investment in this scheme will contribute to the city’s economic recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and create employment and business opportunities for people in the area. It will be a real catalyst to regeneration.”
Ian Williamson, Chief Accountable Officer at Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, said: “This is great progress and shows what we can achieve when we work together, as partners, towards a common aim. This news, and the changes the money will bring, is another sign to staff, patients and local people of our determination to deliver improvements for them.”
Neil Thwaite, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust welcomed confirmation of this funding. He said: “This is very positive news which will provide opportunities for improved joint working and communication between acute, mental health and health and wellbeing services for the benefit of the residents of North Manchester, as we also replace Park House with a high quality modern mental health service facility on the site.”