Nightingale nurse to head hospital builds
THE registered nurse who oversaw the setting up of London’s Nightingale hospital has been appointed to oversee construction of 11 new hospitals in the South West.
Natalie Forrest, a registered nurse who has worked in the NHS for over 30 years, led construction of the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London in response to the pandemic.
She did this alongside her role as chief executive of Chase Farm Hospital, in North London, where she successfully led operational and clinical teams to design an innovative and ground-breaking new hospital, delivered to time, on budget and without interrupting services.
Ms Forrest will oversee the construction of three hospitals in Devon, one in Cornwall, two in Somerset and five in Dorset, as part of a national 40-hospital package worth £3.7billion
Devon will see a new integrated emergency care hospital at Derriford Hospital, in Plymouth, an acute ‘hot’ hospital and a new elective centre at
Torbay Hospital, in Torquay and a rebuild of North Devon District Hospital, in Barnstaple.
Cornwall will receive a new women’s and children’s hospital in the centre of the Royal Cornwall Hospital site at Treliske.
Somerset will have a new cancer hospital at Royal United Hospital, in Bath and a rebuild of, Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton.
Dorset will see a new community hospital, emergency department and intensive care unit at Dorset County Hospital, in Dorchester, new community hospital hubs in Bournemouth and Christchurch, a rebuild of Poole Community Hospital and a new mental health centre at St Ann’s Hospital, in Poole.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I’m delighted to appoint Natalie into this role. She not only brings unrivalled experience in health management and nursing but also the construction and project management knowledge that helped turn the Excel conference centre into a Nightingale Hospital in just nine days, as well as overseeing the rebuild of Chase Farm Hospital at pace.
“The New Hospital Programme – as part of our Health Infrastructure Plan – will transform the delivery of NHS healthcare infrastructure to build back better and will ensure our country has world-class healthcare facilities right across the country for decades to come.”
Ms Forrest, who takes the title of senior responsible officer of the New Hospital Programme, said: “I am determined to build trust in our national capability in planning and delivering hospitals, not just with health and construction stakeholders but with the staff and patients who will benefit from them on a daily basis.
“My goal will be to deliver these new hospitals cost-effectively and at speed, and to foster an ecosystem that owns, learns from and improves healthcare design.”
With more than 12 years spent in NHS senior leadership roles, Ms Forrest has extensive experience working with key clinical, board-level and other NHS stakeholders.
Starting in January 2021, she will oversee a delivery board across the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England.