Ambitious new plans to ‘transform’ the Emergency Department (ED) at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) have been given planning approval by Manchester City Council.
The redevelopment will see the facilities modernised ‘to best meet the changing needs of the local population of Manchester’. This includes increased capacity, and a more streamlined layout to ensure patients continue to receive high quality emergency treatment and care in an improved environment.
The £40 million renovation project will boost the capabilities of MRI, a Major Trauma Centre for Greater Manchester and part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). Upgraded facilities will include an expanded and improved Emergency Department, including 10 (up from six) resuscitation bays and 27 (up from 16) ‘Majors’ cubicles.
Plans also include the creation of six new operating theatres, to support the hospital’s developing role as a regional centre for specialist surgery.
Integrated Health Projects (IHP), an established joint venture between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine, has been appointed as construction partner for the new-build development. Construction is expected to start later in the year, and is expected to take just over three years, with temporary changes to the department’s access and layout implemented to ensure it can continue to operate fully throughout.
Vanessa Gardener, CEO of MRI, said: “Manchester is a rapidly developing city, with a much larger population and different health requirements to the 1980s, when our current Emergency Department was first built. These exciting plans lay out our vision for a new and improved department that will best support the needs of Manchester and beyond, now and in decades to come, for the communities we serve, and our staff who work in this department. The new operating theatres will enable us to modernise our surgical facilities and support our growing role as regional centre for emergency, major trauma, vascular, head and neck cancer, liver, transplant, and other specialist surgery.
“With Manchester City Council’s approval, we look forward to carrying out the delicate and carefully planned work to make this concept a reality, while continuing to deliver high standards of care for our patients throughout the construction process.”
Julia Bridgewater, COO at MFT, said: “MFT is the largest NHS Trust in England, with 10 hospitals and a wide spread of clinical specialisms. These plans for the MRI ED have been thoughtfully considered to best work in co-ordination with our other hospitals, and incorporate the capabilities of these different fields. This major transformation project will mean patients presenting at the MRI ED can be seen by the right people, and receive the right treatment quicker, in a much improved patient environment.”
