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First look pictures of Midland Hotel’s refurbishment and relaunch date revealed

The full refurbishment is due for completion at the end of September.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 17th September 2020
The Midland Hotel

The first pictures of showcasing the extensive refurbishment of Manchester’s iconic Midland Hotel have been revealed and a date for relaunch has also been announced.

The £14m refurbishment features a stunning transformation of all bedrooms and public areas in the hotel.

The most striking change is to the hotel’s main foyer – which now features a brand new, split-level bar built on a raised platform in the heart of the hotel’s lobby – and provides a spectacular space for both guests and non-guests to enjoy.

The Midland Hotel’s food and beverage offering has also received a brand-new look as part of the transformation and the hotel will now be home to two new venues.

New restaurant concept, Mount Street – which is a modern British style brasserie – combines Northern hospitality with an all-day menu offering, and The Midland’s on-site restaurant, The Midland Lounge, also has an all-day menu serving classic dishes with a modern twist.

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The Midland Hotel

Jason Carruthers – Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland – said: “We are thrilled to have completed The Midland’s extraordinary transformation and look forward to unveiling it to the public, allowing guests to once again experience this iconic building. 

“The acquisition of The Midland hotel back in November 2018 marked the start of an extremely exciting chapter for Leonardo Hotels in the UK. The Midland’s £14m investment has allowed us to make our own mark on this famous Manchester property, whilst maintaining the hotel’s historical status.

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“We can’t wait to see the finished product and look forward to welcoming guests, old and new to experience the stylish new surroundings of The Midland.”

The refurbishment follows the full rebrand of the award-winning on-site spa – which transitioned into Rena Spa at The Midland in November 2019 – and offers a wonderful selection of specialist treatments, all using renowned French beauty brand, Caudalie.

Rena Spa at The Midland is also particularly proud to offer a range of Wellness by Germaine De Cappuccini treatments specially designed for those who have or are recovering from cancer.

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The full refurbishment is due for completion at the end of September.

For bookings and more information, you can visit the Midland Hotel website here.

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Advice issued as ‘quademic’ of winter bugs continues to take hold in Greater Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Advice issued as 'quademic' of winter bugs continues to take hold in Greater Manchester. Credit: Unsplash, Brittany Colette

People in Greater Manchester are being urged to get any vaccinations they are due done, as a ‘quademic’ of winter bugs runs rife.

Cases of flu, Covid, norovirus and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are continuing to take hold across the country, and here in Greater Manchester.

The city is seeing more flu cases and hospital admissions than usual for this time of year.

So now health chiefs are urgently reminding eligible people to get their flu jabs and other vaccinations, to protect themselves and others.

Mancs are also being reminded to follow key public health advice, such as frequent hand washing and staying at home when you’re ill.

The flu vaccination drive runs until the end of March and people who are eligible for it can get it from their GP, pharmacy or one of the city’s walk-in clinics, where no appointment is needed.

Dr Cordelle Ofori, Manchester’s Director of Public Health, said: “Our advice is very similar to recommendations made during the Covid pandemic.

“It’s really important to keep washing hands well and regularly; cough or sneeze into tissues or your arm; wipe down key communal surfaces like handles on doors; and where possible, stay at home if you are ill to avoid passing on any infections.

“And, in addition to this we would urge anyone who is also feeling financial or food pressures to ring our free cost of living advice line on 0800 023 2692 or text on 07860 022876.”

Councillor Thomas Robinson, Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Social Care, at Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester people are well-known for how they look after one another – and passing the flu message on could save lives, as well as unnecessary illness at a time when people face many pressures.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to have their vaccination, so please do go to our walk-in clinics if you are 18 and over and eligible for the vaccine. No appointment is needed: it’s quick, easy and done by teams who want to help you.”

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Featured image: Unsplash, Brittany Colette

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Nurses plea for Government support as 90% say patient safety is being ‘compromised’

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Patients dying in corridors, a lack of equipment, and generally unsafe practices are the findings of a harrowing new report into nursing.

Towards the end of last month, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) – which is biggest nursing union and professional body in the world, with more than 500,000 members – asked its members to answer a short survey into the state of nursing throughout 2024, and thousands of nurses across the UK responded.

The report documents the experiences of more than 5,000 NHS nursing staff, with several raw, unedited, and often heartbreaking responses included, all of which confirm that ‘corridor care’, as it’s known, is “widespread” nationwide.

Almost seven in 10 (66.8%) respondents said they’re delivering care in “over-crowded or unsuitable places”, such as corridors, converted cupboards, and even car parks, on a daily basis.

More than nine in 10 (90.8%) said patient safety is being “compromised”.

According to the findings from the survey, demoralised nursing staff reported caring for as many as 40 patients in a single corridor, and find they are unable to access oxygen, cardiac monitors, suction, and other lifesaving equipment during this time.

Some of the more shocking accounts including in the report are of female patients miscarrying in corridors, and nurses being unable to provide adequate or timely CPR to patients having heart attacks.

Nursing staff also report cancer patients being put in corridors and other “inappropriate” spaces.

Nurses are calling for Government support as 90% say patient safety is being ‘compromised’ / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)

More than a quarter of nursing staff surveyed said they weren’t told the corridor they were providing care in was classed as a “temporary escalation space”, which is what the report says NHS England referred to it as, and this means that certain risk protocols and measures may not be in place to ease pressures and protect patients.

This is why the RCN is calling on officials to publish how many patients are being cared for in corridors and other inappropriate places.

The union is urging the Government and NHS England from an RCN-led coalition.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said this devastating testimony from frontline nursing staff shows patients are coming to harm “every day”, and are “forced” to endure unsafe treatment.

“The revelations from our wards must now become a moment in time,” Professor Ranger said.

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“A moment for bold Government action on an NHS which has been neglected for so long. Ministers cannot shirk responsibility and need to recognise that recovering patient care will take new investment, including building a strong nursing workforce.”

Featured Image – Pxhere

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