Milton Keynes University Hospital is set to receive essential funding to deliver a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital and enhanced surgical capacity by 2030.
The confirmation of funding was announced yesterday (25 May) by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay MP, with a commitment of £20bn investment into NHS hospital estates.
With the population of the city set to double by 2050, the Milton Keynes community and those in surrounding areas are set to benefit significantly from this announcement. It will enable MKUH to progress with its ongoing expansion plans to deliver additional capacity and technology enhancements, allowing the Trust to meet the future acute care needs of the rapidly growing local population.
Joe Harrison, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes University Hospital, said: "We are thrilled to hear that essential funding as part of the New Hospital Programme to develop a new women's and children's hospital, and surgical ward has been officially recognised by the Government in an announcement today. This enhancement to our estate is a fundamental element of our future growth strategy, allowing the Trust to increase capacity and improve the hospital care environment across the entire estate.
"We are excited to be moving forward with our plans and would like to thank the local community, MK City Council and both our local MPs for their ongoing support."
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: “I’m absolutely delighted we’ve officially been allocated the funding for a brand new Women and Children’s Hospital in Milton Keynes.
“There’s been so much work put into this behind the scenes to make sure we got the go ahead and to formally secure the funding.
“This is of course on top of the brand new Maple Centre which received Government funding, the two new community diagnostic centres we’ve got on the way and so much more so I’m delighted this Conservative Government is so committed to investing in healthcare in Milton Keynes.”
Iain Stewart, the MP for Milton Keynes South, commented: “I am really pleased that the funding for the brand new Women and Children’s Hospital in Milton Keynes has now been officially allocated.
“Having worked continuously with Ben Everitt MP and Joe Harrison from Milton Keynes University Hospital, it is brilliant news that we have been successful in securing this investment.
“This is yet another example of this Conservative Government investing in the health and the future of Milton Keynes, having already received funding to open the Maple Centre, two Community Diagnostic Centres and a Mobile Screening Unit.”
The announcement of funding will allow to Trust to proceed to the Outline Business Case (OBC) stage of the programme, which will involve further engagement with staff, patients and the local community.
The growth requirements of MKUH have seen the delivery of several high-profile site improvement projects over recent years, including a new Main Entrance, Academic Centre and Cancer Centre. More recently, the Maple Centre development opened in October 2023, delivering an integrated approach to Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) for patients as well an acute assessment ward. The hospital site is currently mid-way through developing its cancer care service with a new state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, due to open summer 2024.
