The Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the critical estates situation at Stepping Hill Hospital. The committee noted the update on the hospital's condition and requested a future update from the Chief Executive of the Foundation Trust.

Stepping Hill Hospital Estates Situation

The committee received a verbal report on the deteriorating state of the estate at Stepping Hill Hospital and its impact on patients, staff, and service delivery. Councillor David Sedgwick, Chair of the Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee, presided over the meeting.

The Chief Executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust explained that Stepping Hill Hospital is an old facility, with its main façade dating back to 1905, and many other buildings over 50 years old, presenting significant maintenance challenges. A substantial portion of the estate, approximately 55% or around 90 buildings, has been categorised as C or D, indicating a poor structural condition requiring regular surveys to ensure continued service provision. Outpatient B was identified as being in the poorest condition (Category D) and had to be evacuated and demolished, necessitating the relocation of patients and services.

The landlocked nature of the site makes it difficult to manage increasing demand. While capital funds are allocated annually, they are also used for IT infrastructure and equipment replacement, contributing to a backlog of maintenance issues. The Trust and local authority have been collaborating on an outline business case to replace a significant part of the Stockport site, which has been submitted to the Department of Health's new hospital build scheme, but it was not prioritised as one of the most urgent.

Members of the committee raised concerns about the impact on services, with the response indicating that most services remain on-site, but limited capacity has led to sourcing services at nearby locations to minimise patient inconvenience. Patients are informed of any changes to their service location approximately six weeks in advance. Communication strategies involve engagement with patient groups and ensuring clarity in patient letters regarding service locations.

Regarding timescales for current works, discussions are ongoing with the national team regarding funding options, with an anticipated solution within the next 15 months. Ongoing assessments cover various aspects of the building estate, including electrics, piping, and drainage, with regular 'sense checks' and information fed into the Trust's governance processes. The Trust is prioritising the allocation of limited capital to minimise the impact on patient outcomes. In the short term, some outpatient capacity is being provided off-site but close to the hospital. If capital becomes available, there are plans to relocate clinical capacity to the town centre, which offers good transport links.

Contingency plans for staff are in place, including business continuity plans and regular communications regarding short, medium, and long-term strategies. National and local staff surveys indicate that staff morale remains relatively high.

The backlog of maintenance is estimated at £90 million, while the hospital receives £30-£40 million annually in capital, which is also allocated to IT and equipment.

The committee resolved to note the update on the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust's estates situation and requested that the Chief Executive of the Foundation Trust submit a further update on the hospital's status to a future meeting. Councillor Wendy Wild and Councillor Mike Newman declared personal interests in this item as a member of the Stepping Hill Foundation Trust and due to their spouse working at the hospital, respectively.