An opening event was held for a new improved outpatients building at Stepping Hill Hospital, with staff joining building contractors MTX for the occasion.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Karen James OBE joined representatives of MTX, together with capital, estates and clinical NHS colleagues to mark the end of a building project which will bring outpatients services at the hospital together once more.

The opening event had a special cake in the shape of the building baked for occasion, and a plasterboard signed by key individuals involved in the new building commemorating the opening too. Local MPs Lisa Smart MP, Tom Morrison MP together with Stockport Council Leader Mark Roberts were also present at the opening.

The new building is a modern and efficient facility containing over 50 rooms, where patients, their families and carers can expect to receive high quality care. Services available from the facility will include orthoptics, optometry, dentistry, cardiology, neurology, oncology, pain, podiatry, rheumatology and more . They will be operational in the coming weeks.

Work on the new outpatients building began in January 2024. The previous outpatients building had to close due to being no longer fit for purpose, and was demolished. Building work was completed at a swift pace due to the innovative modular nature of the construction.

The modular units making up the building were pre-built off-site at a facility in Hull before being transported to site and lifted into place in their new location.  A very large 450 tonne crane is being used to put each of the 72 separate units in place, where they arrived in November 2024.  

The project used the latest modern methods of construction, which has been shown to produce less carbon emissions when compared to more traditional building solutions.  The modules also meant using lighter weight materials, which in turn contributed to a reduction in transport requirements. This is in keeping with the trust’s Joint Green Plan with Tameside and Glossop Integrated Services NHS Foundation Trust, aimed at increasing the sustainability of both organisations.

The new building is in the northern part of the hospital site, opposite the occupational health building. Its footprint is mainly over where previous hospital wards were based, which were demolished several years ago.

The building will have state-of-the-art new equipment, which Stockport NHS Charity funding contributing toward the new facilities.  

Karen James OBE, Chief Executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said; “It is excellent to see this fantastic new building open, and that our outpatients service will be available under the same roof once more, in a greatly improved environment. I’d like to thank MTX, and our capital, estates and clinical colleagues for working so hard to get the new centre ready and running so swiftly – a great example of partnership working.”

Paul Williams, MTX Project Director said; ‘I’d like to say how proud we are to have worked in partnership with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust to deliver this state-of-the-art facility. Our vision was to create a modern, welcoming, and efficient space that would improve the experience for patients and staff alike — and I believe collectively we’ve achieved exactly that. We wish the staff and patients all the very best in this new chapter, and we’re proud to have been part of it.”