The Government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 has been boosted by the appointment of Natalie Forrest to oversee the construction programme.

Forrest has worked in the NHS for over 30 years and is a registered nurse.

She most recently led the construction and operationalisation of NHS Nightingale London in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alongside this role, she was also Chase Farm Hospital’s chief executive, where she successfully led operational and clinical teams to design an innovative and ground-breaking new hospital, delivered to time, on budget, and without interrupting services.

In total, 48 hospitals will be built by 2030, with £3.7billion committed so far as part of the Government’s Health Infrastructure Plan.

In the North East, one of these schemes has just received final approval for the upgrade of mental health facilities in the region.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s new £72.6m facilities – which will be finalised by 2023 – will improve the quality of mental health and learning disability services in the regions by combining innovative design with a holistic approach to patient care and safety.

Final approval has also been secured on Salford Royal’s £67.4m new hospital building, and construction work will begin soon.

This will be home to a major trauma centre treating patients who have experienced life-changing or life-threatening injuries – for example after a serious road traffic accident or fall.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “I’m delighted to appoint Natalie into this role.

“She not only brings unrivalled experience in health management and nursing, but also the construction and project management knowledge that helped turn the Excel Conference Centre into a Nightingale Hospital in just nine days, as well as overseeing the rebuild of Chase Farm Hospital at pace.

“The New Hospital Programme – as part of our Health Infrastructure Plan – will transform the delivery of NHS healthcare infrastructure to build back better and will ensure our country has world-class healthcare facilities right across the country for decades to come.

Forrest added: “I am determined to build trust in our national capability in planning and delivering hospitals, not just with health and construction stakeholders, but with the staff and patients who will benefit from them on a daily basis.

“My goal will be to deliver these new hospitals cost effectively and at speed, and to foster an ecosystem that owns, learns from, and improves healthcare design.”

With over 12 years spent in NHS senior leadership roles, Forrest has extensive experience working with key clinical, board-level, and other NHS stakeholders.

Starting this month, she will oversee a delivery board across the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England and Improvement, which will work closely with a network of NHS trusts.

Overall, the New Hospital Programme will help develop new sustainability standards, planning capabilities, and care and workforce models. It will also implement cutting-edge digital technologies across the NHS and will support an integrated approach to building new healthcare infrastructure using Modern Methods of Construction.