A new £10million purpose-built ‘pathway unit’ will be built at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) following an announcement by the Department of Health.
Local MPs Mark Lancaster and Iain Stewart who supported and lobbied for the funding have said they are “delighted” the hospital has received the funding.
The idea behind the pathway unit is to focus on improving integrated access to primary care, community and mental health services as well as social care, working alongside hospital clinical teams for the cohort of patients who often have complex and multiple needs that attend the A&E department.
The pathway unit is the latest significant investment into MK Hospital to support their 5 year expansion strategy. Other improvements include: a purpose built Academic Centre developed as part of the joint medical school venture with the University of Buckingham; a new Main Entrance opened in May 2017, and plans are in place for a new Cancer Centre that will allow MKUH to provide more complex cancer treatments.
Milton Keynes North MP Mark Lancaster said:
"These units have proven incredibly successful in other hospitals. We know our growing and ageing population puts significant pressure on our A&E, wards and social care system.
"The pathway unit would not only be more appropriate for the needs of patients, but would ease pressures elsewhere in the system. I'm confident this will be a real addition to our expanding and ambitious hospital."
Iain Stewart MP added: "I congratulate the hospital for achieving this investment. It is clear the current leadership team at the hospital are delivering real improvements for residents in Milton Keynes.
The hospital is going from strength to strength and we continue to give our full support to its expansion project. It really does have a bright future.”
In a letter to Mr Lancaster and Mr Stewart the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said:
“The investment is part of the wider plan to provide better services for patients, integrate care better and renew aging facilitates.
The increased funding and the Long Term Plan demonstrates our abiding commitment to the NHS so the NHS can be there for all of us, free at the point of use, long into the future."