A busy week of news has continued following the LH news team reporting on the plans for the AHSN to deliver virtual sessions on best practice for NHS ‘Net Zero’ ambitions, and the DHSC announcing £64 million in funding and new plan to strengthen clinical research delivery.
New executive to join Care Quality Commission
A new Executive Director has joined the Care Quality Commission in a new role, Executive Director of Operations.
Tyson Hepple is currently Director General at the Home Office and will join the CQC later in the summer.
Tyson Hepple said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Care Quality Commission at such an important time for both the CQC and the wider health and care sector. The launch of CQC’s new strategy is a unique opportunity to drive positive change and enhance the vital work already being done here to improve the quality of health and social care services.”
Chief Executive Ian Trenholm said: “I am very pleased to welcome Tyson to CQC. We have recently launched an ambitious new strategy and Tyson’s experience will be absolutely invaluable in helping us roll it out. The role of Executive Director of Operations is an important addition to our Executive Team and critical to the implementation of our strategic plans. I look forward to working with Tyson so that we can continue to deliver our purpose in a rapidly changing health and care sector.”
Mass vaccination centre closes in London
One of the largest vaccination centres in the UK has closed in the past week, the Excel centre in Newham, London, after delivering over 130,00 vaccine doses.
The centre was one of the first large scale vaccination hubs to open to the public and was run by Barts Health NHS Trust, with help from London Ambulance Service, St. John Ambulance, Barts Health Volunteers, and staff at ExCeL London.
The centre was previously used as an emergency NHS Nightingale hospital and was converted to a vaccination centre earlier this year.
A new vaccination centre based at Westfield Shopping Centre has now opened to replace the ExCeL centre.
Manchester Trust to become an Innovation hub
Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust has been selected to become an innovation hub.
The Health Foundation has selected it as a hub for innovation via the Adopting the Innovation programme, which is supporting innovation hubs with funding up to £475,000 each for two and a half years.
Work within the Hub will be delivered across five inter-related work packages – people, process, culture, technology, and co-production & evaluation.
Professor Jane Eddleston, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Joint Group Medical Director and MFT Innovation Hub Director, said: “We are delighted that the Health Foundation has recognised the Trust’s ambitions around innovation, through awarding funding from the Adopting Innovation call, which we will use to support the establishment of the MFT Innovation Hub. The Hub will propel the identification, prioritisation, progression and evaluation of new technologies, and ensure they are rapidly adopted across the Trust and our region.”
Alder Hey Hospital wins European Award
Alder Hey Childrens Hospital has been named the overall winner at the European Healthcare Design Awards.
The new Alder centre was designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and was rivalled for the award from healthcare buildings from around the world.
The award category looked for buildings truly exceptional design, married with a deep understanding of the healthcare needs.
Senior Architect James O’Neill said “It has been a pleasure working with the Alder Hey and Alder Centre teams over the past four years. The European Healthcare Design Award is recognition not just for our work on the building, but also for the vital and inspiring service that the Alder Centre provides. The building and its service are world class and the award reflects this. We are honoured to have designed a new home for the Alder Centre that we hope will serve the people who need to use it for years to come.”
New Islington Community Mental Health Centre
Plans to build a new community mental health centre in North London have been submitted.
Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust are set to redevelop their Lowther Road site, demolishing the current building, and building a brand new modern mental health facility.
Dr Vincent Kirchner, Medical Director at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust said: “Improving the quality of our community facilities is a crucial part of our plans to help people with mental health problems to live well in their communities. Good community services enable people who need our support to receive help early on in their illness, reducing the impact of the illness and the need for a hospital admission.”
The building work is estimated to take between 18 and 24 months to fully complete.
