Issue 1: 18 March 2026
Welcome to the first edition of our HTP Together newsletter
Our Hospitals Transformation Programme (HTP) is the single biggest investment in local acute hospitals in a generation and with just over two years to go, we have much to do to ensure we are ready
To start this work and help you feel informed we now have 118 HTP Change Agents in place across the Trust. These colleagues are here for you and to help you understand more about the programme and answer any questions you may have
We are in the process of finalising our new patient pathways with each Division This is being done in parallel with our workforce planning to ensure we have the right staff in the right locations. By spring, managers and leaders will have a better understanding of what this means for colleagues
We will be heading out across our two hospitals in April to talk to colleagues about where we are in the programme and what it means for you.
This newsletter will be communicated to all staff on a quarterly basis Thank you
Matthew Neal Director of HTP
Sara Biffen HTP Delivery Director
Our priorities
Dr Ed Rysdale Clinical Lead for HTP
Rachel Webster HTP Nursing, Midwifery and AHP Lead
Pathway development with Divisions
Over the coming months each division will discuss and refine their pathways through the Clinical Services Transformation Group This group is held monthly and enables all divisions to be sighted on our patient pathways, ensuring that any impact, change or risk is mitigated
We are also looking at current pathways that can be improved before 2028 One way we are doing this is expanding the bed base for trauma at RSH on Ward 31 This will help us prepare for the future and make us more efficient in treating our trauma patients. Work will be starting soon to create an Acute Trauma Assessment Unit By having this dedicated facility our clinical specialist teams will be able to treat and assess patients arriving through our Emergency Departments quicker in purpose-built trauma facilities We can then make quicker decisions about treatment and, if needed, patients will receive surgery faster This is a really exciting development that will improve the treatment and experience of some of the most vulnerable patients we care for We will keep you updated as these plans progress
Agreeing workforce plans
Last year, we asked all divisions to develop their workforce plans to give an overview of the workforce required and at which site in 2028 We are now taking these plans through Staff Side over the coming months After this, we will then start informally engaging with teams who are most impacted by change We understand that major transformation brings both opportunity and uncertainty, and we are committed to supporting every member of staff at every stage
We have also been working with our People Advisory team to provide Management of Organisational training course for managers If you are a manager, please consider booking onto this course via LMS
Continuing to learn from others
Throughout the course of the programme we continue to build relationships with other trusts who have implemented similar models of care We are meeting with them regularly to learn from their move plans, communications strategies, operating models
We recently met with the Organisational Development Team at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital which opened in October 2024 and became the Emergency Care site for Sandwell and Birmingham NHS Trust The visit provided assurance that we are on track and doing all the right things to be ready for 2028
Looking forward
Save the date: 13-17 April PRH engagement
From Monday 13 - Friday 17 April, our HTP team will be getting out and about to all services and departments based at Princess Royal Hospital This is your time to speak to a member of the team and find out what HTP means for you A full timetable can be found here
If you have any feedback on this newsletter or have a topic you would like to be covered in a future edition, please contact sath improvinghospitals@nhs net