MKUH Celebrates New Hospital Programme Progress

Preparations are now well underway for the construction of the brand-new hospital building at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH), funded through the government’s New Hospital Programme (NHP).

On Tuesday this week, the hospital welcomed senior representatives from the NHP, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and Milton Keynes City Council to mark the official opening of its new multi-storey car park and to tour the Imaging Centre, which is currently under construction.

Both projects are key components of the enabling works for MKUH’s future hospital development, which will provide a new home for maternity and children’s services, as well as provide additional surgical bed capacity. Construction of the new hospital is expected to begin between 2027 and 2030.

Chief Executive of MKUH, Joe Harrison, said:

“It was fantastic to showcase the progress we’re making in delivering high-quality hospital infrastructure for the growing community of Milton Keynes. Our NHP enabling works remain on track, with the new car park already operational and the Imaging Centre advancing well. We are also working closely with the National Grid to deliver a high-voltage power upgrade. All of this will ensure that we meet the needs of our community and deliver a hospital that is fit for the future. I want to thank our stakeholders at NHP, DHSC, and Milton Keynes City Council for their continued support."

Technical Services Director of the New Hospital Programme, Doug Baldock, added:

"It was great to be here for the official opening of the brand-new multistorey car park at Milton Keynes and see the progress of the construction of the new Imaging Centre. These are important milestones in the journey to build the new hospital for the residents of Milton Keynes.

We look forward to continuing to work with the team to deliver a hospital that will meet the future needs of both patients and staff. By using the New Hospital Programme's transformational Hospital 2.0 standard designs we will ensure that Milton Keynes has a hospital that is fit for this fast-growing city."

Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, Cllr Pete Marland, said:

"It's great to see the progress being made on the new hospital development. Milton Keynes City Council is committed to working closely with MKUH to ensure the necessary works are completed so that construction on the new hospital building can begin as quickly as possible."

Last month, MKUH released early concept illustrations for its new hospital building, designed in accordance with the NHS’s latest Hospital 2.0 standard. This approach aims to deliver a modern, efficient, and patient-centred healthcare environment. As part of the development process, MKUH has launched a community survey to gather feedback from local residents on the proposed plans. Public response has been strong so far, and there is still time to participate — the survey remains open until 17 November.