Health Minister: We must build back better to help NHS
Minister for Health Edward Argar says upgrades to hospitals in the Midlands will have huge benefits for patients and staff.
As a nation we are rightly proud of our NHS, and the past year in particular has reminded us once again of what we owe our NHS, as staff have worked around the clock to save lives and provide care throughout the pandemic.
Earlier this month I was delighted to mark the start of the construction of the new Ambulatory Care and Diagnostics Centre at the Heartlands Hospital site in Birmingham.
If the NHS is to continue to be there for all of us in the years to come, we must build back better and continue to invest in modern new buildings and state-of-the-art equipment to give our NHS staff the best facilities in which to work.
Which is why the Government is supporting the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust with more than £97 million for this major upgrade to the Heartlands Hospital, enabling it to remain a state-of-the-art hospital at the heart of the community for many more years to come.
It is one of 20 schemes announced by Boris Johnson shortly after he became Prime Minister last year, as part of our record investment in new NHS buildings and equipment.
As you read this today, construction of the main building is now underway.
I joined the virtual event that brought together staff including nurses, consultants, junior doctors, physios and radiographers, to celebrate this moment and what it means for the dedicated Heartlands Hospital team.
As the hospital celebrates its 125th anniversary this year I saw Isabelle, a paediatrics patient aged 10, and Public Governor Keith Fielding as they buried a time capsule of memorabilia from staff, local organisations and community members, reflecting Heartland’s long history at the heart of the community.
The new Ambulatory Care and Diagnostics Centre (ACAD) at the Heartlands Hospital site will replace outdated facilities and offer a wide range of healthcare services to nearly half a million patients a year.
The centre will house the latest technology and provide a modern environment for patients to get non-emergency treatment and care, like scans, day surgery and outpatient appointments.
Scheduled to complete in 2022, it will support the trust to meet growing demand for services and continue to deliver first-class care for local residents for years to come.
Alongside the new centre at Heartlands Hospital, further afield across the West Midlands another of the 20 upgrades is already underway at Wye Valley NHS Trust, which treats patients from across the region.
Target
The trust has received £23.6 million to replace old hutted wards at the site, temporary buildings in use for more than 75 years after the Second World War, with modern facilities fit for the 21st century. I’m pleased to say it is on target to be completed next year.
Across the country, we have launched the biggest hospital building programme in a generation, which will deliver 40 new hospitals, as well as schemes that are already in train like the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital.
In total since July 2019, this government has invested £7.6 billion in as well as new buildings, equipment and other major upgrades to improve the experience of patients, visitors and staff, alongside the record £33.9bn extra funding for the NHS by 2023-24.
We are not only focused on plans for the future of our NHS, but also on investing to deliver immediate benefits for staff and patients.
This includes University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which recently received an additional £6.9 million to upgrade and expand A&E services as part of extensive work and investment to ensure the NHS is ready to face additional winter pressures alongside tackling Covid-19.
In total, trusts in the Express and Star readers’ areas received over £32 million for these works.
And just last week we announced £600 million to upgrade and refurbish NHS hospitals and tackle vital maintenance work, with local trusts receiving over £27 million for 121 schemes including fire safety improvement works, kitchen upgrades, roofing replacements and theatres refurbishments.
