Mid Cheshire Hospital Trust has launched a new microsite

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) has launched a new microsite to keep people fully up-to-date with plans develop the health and care neighbourhood, which will include Crewe’s new Leighton Hospital.

The easy-to-navigate site will be the central hub for all news, updates, and events about the new hospital programme. It will be updated regularly, ensuring content remains current and relevant.

Chris Knights, Programme Director for the Trust’s Healthier Futures Programme, said:

“The microsite reflects our wider commitment to involving colleagues, partners, and stakeholders in the planning for our new hospital.

“We have listened to our communities and understand their excitement around our plans and have heard the ask to be kept updated. The site will ensure we keep everyone informed and engaged with the new hospital programme, as well as providing details about upcoming events where people can hear more and share their thoughts and experiences.”

Earlier this year, MCHFT reached a significant milestone in its plans for the development of a new Leighton by purchasing land directly next to the existing hospital site.

Following this land acquisition in March, the Trust recently submitted a Strategic Outline Case (SOC), supported by Cheshire & Merseyside ICB, to the national New Hospital Programme team. The SOC is the initial business case for the development of the new Leighton Hospital.

An outline planning application will be submitted to Cheshire East Council in December 2024, with a decision expected in spring 2025.

A series of public engagement events to enable our communities to see our plans before they’re submitted will be announced soon.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will develop a new health and care neighbourhood, which will include our new Leighton Hospital in Crewe. We are doing this because our society is changing, with an aging population and increasingly diverse communities, there is a rising demand for healthcare, which is in part due to a higher number of people living with long-term conditions, and this is only set to increase.

It’s clear the way healthcare is delivered must change. Not only to respond to the needs of today but be fit for the future of tomorrow. The development of the new health and care neighbourhood will follow a national Hospital 2.0 design approach. Hospital 2.0 is a standardised design for future hospitals that will benefit patients and staff through digital solutions and optimised hospital layout. It will decrease the average time to develop and build hospitals, as well as reduce costs.

Pictured - Leighton Hospital.