Work is due to start on an £8.5 million scheme to transform Sutton Cottage Hospital in North Birmingham into an integrated hub for healthcare services for older people.
Due to open in the winter of 2025, the new facility will deliver:
- extensive redevelopment of the 125-year-old Sutton Cottage Hospital site as a ‘one stop’ healthcare hub for over-65s in north Birmingham;
- integrated healthcare delivered holistically between secondary, community and primary care (e.g. respiratory, diabetes, podiatry, dietetics, chronic kidney disease, frailty, musculoskeletal services);
- community diagnostics to support integrated care and alternative pathways to acute hospitals (e.g. X-ray, ECG, ultrasound, spirometry, echocardiography, phlebotomy);
- Relocation of a GP practice;
- additional clinic and treatment rooms to support surge capacity and other ‘seasonal’ demands e.g. winter pressures response and vaccinations;
- inclusion of voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector activity through personalised, non-clinical sessions.
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust says the scheme is part of extensive collaboration between health and social care providers ‘to provide more joined-up services’. A key benefit is that patients should be able to see more than one specialist in a single visit, ‘delivering a more personalised diagnostic experience, and a more holistic preventative approach thanks to signposting to community advice and support’. It explained: “The development will deliver increased capacity to see patients, improving access to care and reducing pressure on acute care services and demand for GP appointments as a gateway to primary care.
BCHC chief executive Richard Kirby said: “I am delighted that our proposals for the redevelopment of Sutton Cottage Hospital as an integrated hub for all older adults have been approved for investment by Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board. There are multiple benefits; patients will access more joined-up care and receive more personalised and holistic support. The model will also help our ongoing focus to reduce acute admissions and help people stay out of hospital.”
Following formal approval of the capital expenditure, on-site work is due to start in autumn/winter of 2024, with the aim of completion during the summer of 2025 ahead of opening to the public in the winter of 2025.
