logo
Former Wolverhampton hospital turned into apartment complex

Former Wolverhampton hospital turned into apartment complex

BBC News13-05-2025
A former hospital that has been transformed into an apartment complex as part of a affordable rent scheme has officially opened.Nightingale House in Wolverhampton, which used to house the Royal Hospital, was opened by Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.The historic site has stood empty since the hospital's closure in 1997, but the Grade II-listed building has now been turned into 38 one and two-bedroom apartments.The flats are available as part of a housing scheme offering adorable rent for people over the age of 55.
The renovation maintains features of the building's architectural heritage, including three stained glass windows installed in the chapel in 1967.It also features modern eco-friendly amenities such as air source heat pumps for heating to reduce its carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency.The site has been revitalised as part of a wider area transformation made possible through the collaborative efforts of housing association whg, City of Wolverhampton Council, Homes England, the West Midlands Combined Authority and developer Morro Partnerships.
On the day of the opening, former hospital staff also gathered for a reunion event to share their memories of working life at the Royal Hospital.In addition, a plaque sponsored by the Royal Hospital Nurses League, was unveiled. Sir Stephen Moss, who has dedicated 57 years to the NHS, unveiled the plaque to celebrate the legacy and care of Wolverhampton NHS staff.
Gary Fulford, group chief executive at whg, said: "The former Royal Hospital building has stood empty since 1997, however, its historical significance as a place for people, and a place of care, has been preserved through our innovative wellbeing scheme."City of Wolverhampton Council deputy leader and cabinet member for city housing, councillor Steve Evans, said: "[It] is an iconic building in Wolverhampton and has played a huge part in the lives of so many of our citizens."It is also in keeping with the wonderful transformation of the Royal Quarter as a whole over recent years where the council has worked tirelessly with partners to regenerate the area as a key gateway to the city centre, driving further investment and giving our residents and businesses opportunities to thrive."
Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dementia patients being forced to wait up to two years for a diagnosis, damning study reveals
Dementia patients being forced to wait up to two years for a diagnosis, damning study reveals

The Independent

time21 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Dementia patients being forced to wait up to two years for a diagnosis, damning study reveals

Patients are being forced to wait up to two years for a dementia diagnosis in what a report has described as a 'government failure'. The report from charity Care England states there are ongoing gaps in diagnosis, significant regional disparities, and serious challenges in the co-ordination of care. The review – called The Current State Of Dementia Diagnosis & Care In England – adds that waiting times from referral to diagnosis in England are now hitting the two-year mark, in comparison to a maximum waiting time of 34 weeks in 2019. It states the average waiting time from referral to dementia diagnosis has increased by more than a third, from 13 weeks in 2019 to 17.7 weeks. Care England – a registered charity which represents independent providers of adult social care – says the findings point towards a 'government failure to deliver timely and effective strategies to address the growing demand for dementia services'. The charity is calling for a 'unified national strategy, enhanced dementia-specific workforce training, and sufficient sustainable funding'. It argues the demographic trajectories mean dementia care will continue to deteriorate without intervention, owing to an ageing population and the projected rise of those needing care and support. Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, has urged national leaders to treat dementia as a priority. He said: 'People living with dementia, and the professionals who care for them, are navigating a system that is too often reactive, underfunded, and disjointed. 'This report is a call to redesign that system from the ground up, which needs national leadership, long-term investment, and a commitment to treating dementia care as a priority, not an afterthought. 'Behind every statistic is a person whose journey with dementia could have been better if there were earlier diagnosis and more co-ordinated care. 'We need leadership, investment, and urgency – as a society, we owe it to the nearly one million people living with dementia to build a system that acts before crisis, supports every stage of the journey, and delivers dignity, not disparity.' The review has pointed to specific changes it would like to see introduced to improve dementia care. These include a national standardised diagnostic pathway, a nationally mandated standard of care across every stage of the dementia care pathway, and provision and funding for national education for care providers. The report also calls for the reintroduction of a national dementia diagnosis benchmark as part of a Dementia Accountability Framework. Jill Quinn, chief executive of the charity Dementia Forward, claims the current system leads to inequality in dementia treatment She said: 'Without a national dementia strategy and a uniformed approach, not only do we create dangerous gaps in the support and care, but we also fail to share good practice and ultimately improve lives. 'Our hope is that we can work together to create a system that helps people, avoids crises and improves lives.'

Legendary EFL manager and player Ronnie Moore diagnosed with incurable blood cancer at the age of 72
Legendary EFL manager and player Ronnie Moore diagnosed with incurable blood cancer at the age of 72

Daily Mail​

time22 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Legendary EFL manager and player Ronnie Moore diagnosed with incurable blood cancer at the age of 72

EFL legend Ronnie Moore has sadly been diagnosed with an incurable form of blood cancer. Moore, 72, managed a host of English clubs including Tranmere, Oldham and Rotherham and Hartlepool. He is currently the chief scout at the latter, a role he has been in since April of last year. Moore was a striker before hanging up his boots and turning to coaching, playing for Tranmere and Rotherham as well as Charlton, Cardiff and Rochdale. Rotherham announced the devastating news on social media on Wednesday, posting on X: 'we're right with you, Ronnie. 'The thoughts and unwavering support of everyone at Rotherham United is with legendary former player and manager@ronniemoore53 who has been diagnosed with Myeloma - a form of blood cancer.' The Englishman will receive treatment in the coming months, which will include a stem cell transplant, but there are no hopes of a full and total recovery. A myeloma is generally considered treatable, but not curable, with treatment focused on controlling the disease, relieving symptoms, and prolonging life. A longer statement on Rotherham's website read: 'we have been informed that Ronnie will now receive treatment in the coming months and he will await a stem cell transplant for a cancer that is treatable, but sadly incurable and will need to be managed by medical professionals. 'We are pleased to hear that Ronnie is currently feeling well and walking regularly. 'A true legend of the football club, Ronnie will continue to be welcome to attend matches at AESSEAL New York Stadium and will, of course, have the full backing of everyone at Rotherham United throughout the journey that lies ahead. 'We know that our fanbase and the wider football family will join us in offering our unequivocal support to an immeasurably-respected and rightly-celebrated individual and we are confident that will be done in a way which respects the privacy of Ronnie, his family and his friends. We're all right with you, Ronnie.' Moore is considered to be one of the greatest Rotherham players of all time with 52 goals in 125 games.

Study to understand needs of children seeking help from NHS gender clinics
Study to understand needs of children seeking help from NHS gender clinics

Western Telegraph

time29 minutes ago

  • Western Telegraph

Study to understand needs of children seeking help from NHS gender clinics

Experts said there is 'limited evidence about how best to support young people who experience gender incongruence', with previous studies looking at fewer children and research teams reporting high dropout rates among those involved in the studies. Academics from King's College London will track up to 3,000 children who seek help through NHS Children and Young People's Gender Services, with recruitment expected to start in the autumn. The announcement comes following the Cass Review of NHS gender identity services last year which concluded children had been let down by a lack of research and evidence on medical interventions in gender care. The new research project, dubbed Pathways Horizon, will track the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children seeking help from NHS gender services over a number of years. It could highlight differences among children with autism and ADHD, and potential differences among those seeking care based on their gender at birth. 'There have been an increase of about 20-fold in the number of children and young people presenting to gender services in the UK,' said chief investigator of the study Emily Simonoff, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. 'That's actually an international trend in other high-income countries in Europe, the US and Australia, and we don't fully understand why. 'We know that there are differences in the children and young people who are presenting to services. And, most notably, that there's a marked increase in the number of birth-registered females who are presenting to services. 'That means that we need to collect evidence about what are the care and support needs for the group of children, young people who are currently attending services. And that's what Pathways aims to do.' She added: 'There's been a real shift in the number of referrals over the last 10 or 15 years, and what was considered a rare problem 15 years ago is now much more common, and there's a recognition that there needs to be substantial, large-scale research that can address some of the important questions.' Under-18s involved in the study and their parents will complete a series of questionnaires which will focus on gender identity; physical and mental health; quality of life and wellbeing. The surveys will also ask children how they feel about their bodies, their relationships and their school life. They will be tracked for a number of years and their information will be linked to their health and education records. The study is an observational study, which means the research team will track children over time without changing any elements of their care. Dr Michael Absoud, deputy chief investigator from King's College London, said: 'We hope to understand how different types of support, whether it be it psychological, medical, educational, social, can best promote young people's well being. Baroness Hilary Cass, a retired consultant paediatrician, published her review into children's gender care in 2024 (Yui Mok/PA) 'Ultimately, our goal is to help in shaping the future services to help children, improve child health, support families and also clinicians working with services in the UK, to make more informed, compassionate and personalised decisions grounded in good evidence and data, and shaped by the voices of those affected.' Professor Richard Emsley, study statistician from King's, said: 'We're describing the young people coming to the service and the experiences that they've had much more comprehensively than other studies have done. 'This will include adverse childhood experiences, social transitioning, neurodiversity such as autism and ADHD, and mental health symptoms including anxiety, depression, eating problems and difficulty managing emotions.' Puberty blockers are not prescribed on the NHS to children for the treatment of gender dysphoria following a ban. Plans remain in place to set up a clinical trial into the use of puberty blockers in children, although no patients have yet been recruited while ethical and regulatory approval is awaited. Experts from the new trial expect some of the children they will study will be part of the puberty blocker trial. The studies will be 'linked' but will run independently. Two children's gender hubs, led by London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh) and Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, opened in April 2024. This followed the closure of the gender identity development service run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. A third service opened in Bristol last November while another is planned for the east of England and is expected to open soon. The aim is for there to eventually be up to eight specialist children's gender clinics covering the seven NHS regions in England.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store