New wards open at Milton Keynes University Hospital

New wards designed to support older patients and improve their care have opened at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (MKUH) held an event earlier this week to officially open Oak Wards. The site will be a major new inpatient facility designed to support patients with frailty, dementia and complex healthcare needs.

The official opening took place on Monday (11/05), with the first patients having used the wards earlier this month. Oak Wards provides 48 beds across two floors, offering a calm, supportive environment for patients alongside modern facilities for clinical teams.

The development responds to the needs of Milton Keynes’ growing and ageing population, as demand for hospital services continues to rise and healthcare needs become more complex.

Joe Harrison, Chief Executive at MKUH, said, “The opening of Oak Wards is a major step forward for our hospital and the community we serve. Patients are now benefiting from this new environment which supports their dignity and recovery, and their early feedback has been extremely positive. Our teams are also enjoying the new modern facilities which will help them to deliver the best possible outcomes.

“Oak Wards represents a significant stage in our wider development programme which has seen MKUH invest over £85 million in estate projects during the last year. The new building and its facilities were shaped by local people and our staff, and I am very pleased to see their ideas brought to life today.”Heidi Travis, Chair of MKUH, added:

“Oak Wards demonstrates our commitment to ensuring MKUH delivers good quality, safe care that keeps pace with evolving needs as well as new innovations in healthcare.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in delivering this wonderful space that will benefit patients and families for many years to come.”

Other recent developments at MKUH include the completion of a new Imaging Centre, delivered as part of the Trust’s New Hospital Programme enabling works, as well as the opening of a new multi‑storey car park and the opening of an on‑site Radiotherapy Centre.

Deputy Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Paul Trendall, attended the opening and welcomed the positive impact Oak Wards will have on local patients.

The Trust paid tribute to its teams, patients and the construction and design partners whose collaboration helped bring the project to fruition.