Recently, at Leading Healthcare, we’ve covered the news that a new £1.7bn hospitals project is being planned by Bradford NHS trusts and that the government is introducing new changes to combat overprescribing.
However, we’ve also rounded up the latest news from the past week that you may have missed…
Non-executive director appointed
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has appointed a new Independent Non-Executive Director. Liz Sharp started a three-year term of office on 19 September.
Chair of SECAmb, David Astley, said: “I would like to formally welcome Liz to SECAmb and know that her appointment will bring additional support and challenge to the Board, in particular regarding patient experience. Her three decades in the health sector will be of real value to us and I look forward to working closely with her over the coming months and years.”
Liz Sharp is a registered nurse and is a trustee of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People.
New Mental Health Clinical Assessment Unit opened
A new Mental Health Clinical Assessment Unit has opened at Croydon University Hospital, a part of Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The unit is located close to the trust’s emergency department.
David Bradley, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust’s Chief Executive said: “The new unit will help to save people’s lives and we are pleased to have worked together with our partner organisation to ensure people who present at ED needing urgent mental health help can access safe, effective support when they need it.
“This purpose-built Mental Health Clinical Assessment Unit will ensure the privacy and dignity of people who are using the service. The unit will also help give the physical health trust the capacity to care for general patients knowing that patients who need mental health support are safe and cared for.”
Staffed by mental health clinicians, the new unit will work with the trust’s psychiatric liaison team, to provide an integrated care service.
West Cumberland hospital designs published
New designs have been released ahead of a £40 million redevelopment project that will take place at West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven.
Lyn Simpson, Chief Executive at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re extremely proud of the final design of phase two of West Cumberland Hospital. It incorporates feedback from clinical colleagues who will work in the areas and are therefore best placed to ensure the design works for both staff and patients. The plans focuses heavily on the needs and wellbeing of our patients including outdoor space and areas for increased privacy.”
The scheme will see up to 40 per cent of the original hospital replaced, as well as refurbishment of the Gynaecology department.
Construction is expected to start in the early part of 2022, and the completion of the work is set for 2024.
New architects selected by Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
New architects have been chosen to lead the design of a new hospital for adults as part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust to transform care. We reported on the first designs being released to the public, earlier this year but the Perkins & Will team, led by Penoyre & Prasad with Schmidt Hammer Lassen, have replaced the original partner.
Simon Worthington, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Director of Finance and Senior Responsible Officer for the Hospitals of the Future Project, said: “We were unable to proceed with one of our tenderers but, in accordance with good procurement practise the right thing to do was to follow due process and this has resulted in the Perkins & Will team being appointed as the trust’s Preferred Bidder to take forward this design opportunity.
“The competition process to appoint an architect was very strong with a number of international practices taking part which meant we received some exceptional concept designs. The Perkins & Will concept design is very exciting and will create a fantastic landmark for the hospital and the city of Leeds and we are delighted to be working with them to create the new hospitals.”
The new hospital designs will comprise of a brand-new Leeds Children’s Hospital, a new Maternity Centre, and a 24-bed extension to the critical care unit.
North London trusts collaborate to create a shared corporate services group
A new shared corporate services group has been proposed in North London and will be formally established on 1 December.
The North London Partners Shared Services (NLPSS) will bring together transactional recruitment services.
The nine trusts that have joined the North London Partners Shared Services are Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Whittington Health NHS Trust.
The North London Partners Shared Services will be used to improve staff experience and invest in the latest technology.
Funding released to tackle climate change
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust has secured £1.74 million in funding to combat climate change. The money will go towards solar lighting at Humber Centre and East Riding Community Hospital.
The funding comes from the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), as part of Phase 2 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). The goal of the PSDS scheme is to “tackle climate change, support economic recovery and work towards the UK’s net-zero target.”
Alex Fowler, Environmental Manager at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Overall, there will be a significant improvement to the building management systems, as equipment will be able to be controlled remotely, lending the Trust further control of heating within these two sites.”
“This is a fantastic achievement for the trust. Our teams are grateful for the support from BEIS and Salix and look forward to working with them moving forwards.”
