The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, has praised staff at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT) during a visit to the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Steve was joined by Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England, for a tour of the state-of-the-art hospital, which opened last month. They were joined by the Trust’s Chair, Sue Musson, and Chief Executive, James Sumner.
Staff at the hospital, which is the biggest in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single en-suite bedrooms, showcased some of the benefits that the new facility is providing, including improved patient experience, safety and enhanced recovery.
Steve and Amanda met with staff on the Critical Care Unit and Ward 4D to learn about the new ways of working in the hospital which are helping to improve patient care.
Steve also held a private engagement session with a small group of staff from different areas across the Trust, who had the opportunity to talk to him about their experiences working within the NHS and describe the pressures they are facing.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay said: “The Royal Liverpool University Hospital’s new facilities will improve care for patients across the city by speeding up access to treatment with 640 beds, 18 state-of-the-art operating theatres and 40 critical care beds.
“I met staff and patients and toured the new wards which all have single rooms with en-suite facilities and natural light. I am delighted to see the facility open for patients after being completed under our New Hospital Programme, backed by up to £800m of total investment.”
James Sumner, Chief Executive of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I was pleased to welcome Steve and Amanda to our fantastic new hospital, to showcase the great work our staff are doing every day to care for our patients.
"The visit also enabled us to talk honestly about some of the pressures the health and social care systems are facing, and how we can continue to work together to provide the best care possible to the communities we serve.”