A summer series of national New Hospital Programme roadshow events visited Preston today (16 August 2023), as Government representatives arrived to discuss the next steps for building two new hospitals in the region.
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS welcomed Health Minister Lord Nick Markham CBE following on from the Government’s commitment to replace both Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary with new builds on new sites.
In May 2023, the Government announced a record investment of more than £20 billion, ring-fenced for the next phase of the national New Hospital Programme, which brings proposals for new cutting-edge hospital facilities for Lancashire and South Cumbria a step closer.
The roadshow event was an opportunity for Lord Markham to hear first-hand from staff and patients of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, as well as local NHS leaders, members of parliament and local councils, health and social care colleagues. Lord Markham saw first-hand the challenges of working in and being cared for in some of the current buildings. Conversations also explored what the rebuilds of Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary could mean for those who access these facilities, including improving the working lives of staff and enabling patients to access outstanding care in new state-of-the-art hospital facilities.
Replacements for Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary are part of a rolling programme of national investment in capital infrastructure beyond 2030. In addition, Furness General Hospital in Barrow will benefit from investment in improvements.
The existing Preston and Lancaster sites will remain in place and deliver services to our population until new hospital facilities are opened. The local NHS will continue to keep communities involved and provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Further detailed work is underway to assess the viability of potential locations for both new hospital builds and to develop the required business cases.
Health Minister Lord Markham said:
“We are investing in new NHS facilities across the country so patients can access high quality care in state-of-the-art hospitals, both now and in the years to come.
“The North West will benefit from six new hospitals and this week I’ve been visiting some of the sites and speaking to patients, staff and local leaders across the region about the plans and progress. These will help to improve care and allow patients to be seen more quickly, which will help to cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top five priorities.
“In the long term, our new standardised design means we can rapidly replicate new hospitals across the country, helping to speed up construction and deliver on our commitment of 40 new hospitals by 2030.”
Jerry Hawker, Director of Transformation for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Senior Responsible Officer for Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Lord Markham to Lancashire and South Cumbria for the national New Hospital Programme roadshow. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the national New Hospital Programme team and the Department for Health and Social Care, as well as our local NHS, council and wider partners to deliver our plans to offer the absolute best in modern healthcare and address significant problems with the current ageing hospital buildings.”
Kevin McGee OBE, Chief Executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Being able to build new hospitals on new sites will be truly transformational, and I was delighted to welcome Lord Markham to Royal Preston Hospital for him to hear first-hand what these changes will mean for our patients, community and staff. The New Hospitals Programme will give us the freedom to design our services and facilities around the needs of our patients, future-proofing for the next generation, and today’s event was a fantastic way to discuss our ambitions for the years to come.”
Aaron Cummins, Chief Executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“One of the most exciting parts of our New Hospitals Programme is that it will allow us to work with our colleagues, partners, and local communities to design new facilities from the ground up. Most of us will only see this kind of opportunity once in our lifetimes and we will continue to work hard to ensure that we make the most of the possibilities that this investment in our patch will bring for patients and colleagues.”
Kevin Lavery, Chief Executive of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said:
“The New Hospitals Programme is about more than just buildings – it is a once-in-a-generation investment that will give us the opportunity to transform how health and care is delivered in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
“This is our chance to shape our services to meet the needs of our patients, staff and local communities, to enhance their experiences, and, of course, to create hospital facilities that our present and future generations deserve.”