Funding Impasse Halts £52 Million Staffordshire Hospital Redevelopment

A £52 million initiative to reconstruct four community hospitals in Staffordshire has reached a “stalemate” due to revised NHS funding regulations. Plans for integrated care hubs (ICHs) at Leek Moorlands, Bradwell, and Haywood Hospital, along with a new facility in Longton, received approval from local NHS commissioners in 2019. However, NHS England has yet to grant approval for the project to proceed, citing that there is “currently no funding route available.” NHS England stated its close collaboration with the trust to identify the most effective method for securing funds for these hubs. Conversely, the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT), which is spearheading the project, indicated that the health service demonstrated “no appetite” to endorse the plans. Each of these hubs is intended to consolidate over 40 health and social care services within modern, purpose-built facilities, aiming to bring care closer to residents. Adam McKeown, director of delivery and transformation at MPFT, informed a health and care scrutiny committee meeting at Staffordshire County Council that new NHS finance rules were responsible for the delay. He stated: “We’ve got to the point where outline business cases have been developed for the ICHs, but there is currently no appetite to sign those off from NHS England.“So we’re in the position which we didn’t want to be in, where we have business cases, we have an operating model, and have undertaken a number of public engagement exercises, but at this stage we do not have permission to move forward to a full business case process and spend any of the money.” Mr. McKeown continued: “We’ve tried to be as pragmatic as we possibly can, with the current sites we do have. At this stage, it’s not a good message – essentially we’re at a stalemate. “We can’t move forward with the build. We are currently doing everything we can to utilise an estate which is not entirely fit for purpose.” Mr. McKeown mentioned that the trust is now awaiting decisions regarding NHS finances for the 2025/26 fiscal year, in addition to a longer-term settlement based on the NHS 10-year plan. Leek councillor Charlotte Atkins questioned why the ICH program could not advance without major construction at existing hospitals. Mr. McKeown explained that the range of services that could be provided from older buildings was limited, and the proposed operating model relied on new facilities. NHS England informed the BBC that after the integrated care hub plan was approved by the trust in 2019, the NHS capital regime changed. This alteration means new funding rules now restrict the amount of money the trust can allocate to capital schemes. A spokesperson affirmed: “We continue to work closely with the trust to find the best way of securing funding for these hubs.” Information regarding BBC Stoke & Staffordshire can be accessed on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. This material is copyrighted by BBC 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content of external sites and provides details on its approach to external linking.