Report of Executive Director of Strategy, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, Group Executive Director of Workforce and Corporate Business, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Deputy Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Director of Inclusive Economy, Manchester City Council

This report provides an update on health infrastructure developments in North Manchester, including New Park House, the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site redevelopment and the associated North Manchester Strategy; and at Wythenshawe Hospital. Partners will present the accompanying slide deck at the Committee meeting.

The Committee considered the joint report of the Executive Director of Strategy, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning Group, Executive Director of Workforce and Corporate Business, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Deputy Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Director of Inclusive Economy, Manchester City Council that provided an update on health infrastructure developments in North Manchester, including New Park House, the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site redevelopment and the associated North Manchester Strategy; and at Wythenshawe Hospital.

The report was accompanied by a presentation that further articulated the key points within the report.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         An update on the developments in North Manchester, noting the North Manchester Strategy, the shared ambition of the key partner organisations in Manchester to deliver much-needed investment in North Manchester, and to use this as a stimulus to drive economic regeneration and improved health and wellbeing for the local population;

·         An update on the New Park House Development; and

·         An update on the developments at Wythenshawe Hospital, noting that the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for MFT’s Wythenshawe site was endorsed by the Executive on 17 March 2020.

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

·         Noting that the plans for North Manchester presented an exciting and positive development for the site that was in much need of modernisation and recognising the significant wider benefits to the local area in terms of employment and skills;

·         Noting that it was important to ensure that public transport links to hospital sites were improved;

·         Seeking an assurance that services would not be relocated from North Manchester General Hospital, stressing the importance of retaining the status of the provision as a General Hospital;

·         Welcoming the proposals to develop Park House and enquiring what support would be offered to patients transferring from the old provision into the new one;

·         Expressing concern that the proposals for Wythenshawe Hospital to release the potential of the site to attract significant complementary economic activity such as research and innovation was dependant on a change to national policy;

·         Recommending that a substantive report specifically on the plans for Wythenshawe Hospital be submitted for consideration at an appropriate time; and

·         Had COVID-19 impacted on the budget to deliver the ambitions described for North Manchester and would the delivery of the scheme described result in any debt for the Trust.

The Director of Human Resources and Deputy Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust described that patients accessing Park House typically stayed for 30 days on average, so there were no long-term patients. However, patients who would transfer into the new unit would be supported by staff to help familiarise and orientate them into the new and improved environment. He further informed the Members that service users had been consulted with and closely involved with the design of the new facility.

The Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust stated that the plan would be to develop a multi storey car park at the Wythenshawe site and noted the comment regarding the need for improved public transport links. She said that the move to regulate the bus network in Manchester was an opportunity to address this and would further support the environmental ambitions of the city. She reassured the Members that this was a live and ongoing discussion.

In response to a comment made regarding the digital offer, the Director of Strategic Projects, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust stated that digital was embedded in all aspects of the site, stating that there were many examples of how this had improved the patient experience and improved the efficiency of service delivery. She stated that they were mindful of digital exclusion and were working to address this where appropriate.

The Programme Director, Single Hospital Service, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust noted the comments regarding the opportunity to utilise the plans as a catalyst to deliver employment and skills to the local community in north Manchester by adding that it would also deliver commercial opportunities in the localities and physical improvements and connectivity in those areas. He described that this scheme would be delivered in partnership with the Council and partners to maximise the full potential of the project and maximise the benefits and opportunities to local residents. He described that the programme would be delivered via national funding so there would be no debt incurred by the Trust. He further added that the financial implications resulting from inflation and the sourcing of materials and resources would be addressed through the ongoing discussions with central government.

The Programme Director, Single Hospital Service, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust reassured the Committee that in terms of service delivery there would be no visible change in North Manchester, and the intention was to retain the existing specialist services at the site, noting that there were still issues to be resolved as part of the transition to the Single Hospital Service discussions and agreements. He stated that any proposals to change or alter the provision of a service would be subject to formal consultation and discussion with the Health Scrutiny Committee.

The Deputy Leader stated that the plans described represented a unique opportunity to improve the outcomes for many Manchester residents. She stated that this programme would further support the stated commitment for Manchester to be a Marmot City Region and tackle health and socio-economic inequalities experienced in the city. She stated that local residents and local Members would be consulted with as these projects developed.

Decision

The Committee recommend;

1. That a substantive report that describes the plans for Wythenshawe Hospital, including funding agreements be added to the Committee’s Work Programme for consideration at an appropriate time.

2. That the Chair of Health Scrutiny discuss with other Committee Chairs the division of scrutiny of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for North Manchester Hospital to ensure they were monitored by the appropriate committee. Noting that the data to be monitored and any benchmarking / baseline that are set were scrutinised before being finalised by the appropriate committees.