Report of the Interim Deputy Place Based Lead (Manchester),NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care; the Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the Director of Finance, IM&T and Estates, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

This report provides an overview of the key health infrastructure developments in Manchester.

The Committee considered the joint report of the Interim Deputy Place Based Lead (Manchester) NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, the Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the Director of Finance, IM&T and Estates Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust that provided an overview of the key health infrastructure developments in Manchester.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         An update on the Wythenshawe Hospital master plan;

·         The developments encompassed under the umbrella of the North Manchester Strategy, including the redevelopment of the North Manchester General Hospital site and the reprovision of the Park House mental health facility; and

·         Key developments in primary care and community estates in the city.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         That a visit and briefing to North Manchester General Hospital be arranged for all North Manchester Councillors, with an invitation extended to all members of the Health Scrutiny Committee;

·         Was there an opportunity to increase the number of jobs and apprenticeship opportunities created through the development and investment in North Manchester;

·         Welcoming the Victoria North Development and asking if consideration had been given to health infrastructure to meet the demands on the local population;

·         Welcoming the improvements identified for North Manchester General Hospital and noting that this had only been made possible as a direct result of the decision taken to disaggregate North Manchester General Hospital from Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust;

·         Expressing disappointment of progress in delivering the Wythenshawe Hospital masterplan;

·         Noting the uncertainty of Government adequately funding the Wythenshawe Hospital masterplan;

·         Noting the challenges and limitations presented by current Treasury rules in securing alternative funding opportunities to deliver the Wythenshawe Hospital masterplan;

·         Calling for the continued lobbying of Government to secure funding to deliver the Wythenshawe Hospital masterplan;

·         Expressing concern that Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust would utilise New Hospital Programme fees for 2022/23 to fund resource to March 2023, noting that there was currently no funding beyond March 2023 in place, noting that this situation could have implications for both North Manchester and Wythenshawe sites;

·         Had the issues relating to historic Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and associated contractual arrangements been addressed at Wythenshawe Hospital;

·         Recognising that the number of GP practices was as a result of practices consolidating;

·         Was there any information relating to the provision of dentist practices; and

·         Had the views of service users been taken into consideration during the design of the Park House inpatient mental health facility.

The Interim Deputy Place Based Lead, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care informed the Committee that a letter dated 10 January 2023 from Manchester partners, headed by the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive of MFT had been sent to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care emphasizing again the vital importance of the North Manchester General Hospital redevelopment proposals. He further commented that he was happy to facilitate a visit and briefing at North Manchester General Hospital for all North Manchester Councillors, with an invitation extended to all members of the Health Scrutiny Committee.

The Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust stated that she shared the frustrations expressed by the Members regarding progress at the Wythenshawe site. She described that they were working with Bruntwood and the Council as part of the wider redevelopment of Wythenshawe. She stated that she supported the call for continued lobbying of Government for adequate funding to deliver the Wythenshawe masterplan. She further commented that the PFI arrangements had been taken into account during the planning and financial modelling. In regard to North Manchester, she stated that economic growth and development was central to the vision of the development and work was underway with local schools and other partners to maximise the delivery of social value of this programme. She stated that the business case for the North Manchester development had been submitted two years ago however this had been reviewed in November 2022 to take into account increased budgetary and inflation costs and these revised figures had been submitted to the Secretary of State. In reply to questions regarding the implications of the ‘New Hospital Programme’ and ‘Hospital 2.0’ she advised that they were awaiting further information on these Government proposals.

The Deputy Head of Primary Care stated that discussions have been ongoing with developers throughout the design and planning of the Victoria North Development to ensure that appropriate consideration was given to health infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing population in the area. He further addressed the issue raised regarding dentistry by advising that since July 2022 arrangements for the commissioning of these services had transferred to the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board. He stated that work was currently ongoing to look at this area of activity.

The Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care stated that the report clearly demonstrated the scale and vision that Manchester had in regard to improving and delivering health infrastructure across the city. He acknowledged that more needed to be done to articulate this ambition to residents. He stated that the conversations regarding delivering the ambition for the city were live and ongoing and the Committee would be kept informed of developments.

Decision

To note the report.