Manchester’s eye on the future

The handover of both buildings by PFI consortium Catalyst Healthcare (Manchester) to the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) marks the last major phase of the four-year, £500 million Central Manchester Hospitals development. The handover follows the completion in May, as part of the same scheme, of the city’s new and improved St Mary’s Maternity Hospital and, just a short time before, the flagship Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (HEJ – June 2009). Roger Potts, general manager at Catalyst Healthcare in Manchester, commented: “Working with our construction partner, Bovis Lend Lease, we have completed and delivered four brand new hospitals in less than two months. Our city now has a suite of the most modern hospitals in the UK, with spacious, attractive, welldesigned buildings offering the latest treatments and care to adults and children across the North-West. “The new MRI was partly completed in 2007. This new wing will provide new facilities for haematology, renal and acute medicines. All services will benefit from the improvement in facilities, with in-patient areas seeing a large increase in the number of single rooms and en-suite facilities. “The Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, the UK’s largest specialist eye hospital outside London, will be a vast improvement on current facilities,” he added. “Patient care had previously been delivered from three different sites. “This handover marks the official end of construction on the site, although there is a still a significant amount of demolition and landscaping work to do.” Built by Bovis Lend Lease, and completed on budget, the new wing of the Manchester Royal Infirmary includes purpose-built isolation rooms for renal patients and the facility for in-patients to receive dialysis treatment on their ward. Bed numbers in haematology will increase from 18 to 22, with a new spinal treatment room and improved isolation facilities. The two-storey Manchester Royal Eye Hospital will include 24 examination, five laser treatment, and two ultrasound rooms. The ophthalmic ward will house nine single rooms, an isolation room, a four-bedded area, and consulting and treatment rooms. The day case unit will include six examination, three interview, and a number of specialist treatment rooms. With four cutting-edge hospitals, Manchester’s new healthcare development will deliver over 1,100 beds to the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and, when complete, will also provide essential support services including clinical sciences, education, training and nursery facilities.