THE trust that runs Wythenshawe Hospital has agreed a multimillion pound deal with a world leader in medical device technology to transform the way it diagnoses and treats heart patients.

The partnership - worth £50 million over seven years - is between UHSM (University Hospital South Manchester) and Medtronic, who have won the contract to replace the hospital’s four cath labs and provide state of the art diagnostic imaging equipment.

Every year thousands of people with a variety of heart conditions come from all over the region in need of the hospital’s expertise.

Wythenshawe health chiefs say this deal will ensure that doctors have the best facilities at their disposal to treat their patients.

Karen James, acting chief executive, said. “Medtronic is a globally recognised medical technology leader. This partnership is about much more than simply replacing our cath labs, it’s also about helping us to improve our processes, develop our education and training and improving our patient offer.”

Rob ten Hoedt, senior vice president and president, Medtronic Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada, says that he is delighted to be working on this new venture for the company: “UHSM is the first hospital trust we have partnered with in such a significant, long-term collaboration in the UK and one of the first in Europe for Medtronic.

“This partnership is part of a new business model we call Hospital Solutions, which is about offering healthcare providers more than our products. We provide long-term, all-inclusive solutions to facilitate optimal and efficient patient care and access to the best therapeutic options. We are excited about this partnership and see this as a good start to a wider collaboration with the trust and the City of Manchester.”

Medtronic say they have selected Wythenshawe not only because of the innovative outlook of UHSM but also because of the pioneering attitude of the city authorities.

UHSM chairman, Felicity Goodey, says that the presence of such a major global medical technology company will attract other well-known corporations to consider Manchester, and the planned Manchester MediPark, as an exciting opportunity for inward investment.

UHSM is developing the Manchester MediPark in partnership with Manchester City Council and private sector developers.

It will exploit the huge strengths of Greater Manchester and the North West in health and life science services, research and development and form a key part of the new Manchester Airport City Enterprise Zone.

Ms Goodey added: “Health and life sciences is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors, a multi-billion pound industry. Manchester Medipark with a major hospital at its core and a mile from one of Europe’s best connected international airports is exceptionally well placed to take advantage of this opportunity. The site, which can offer around 200 acres, draws on a unique range of assets not found anywhere else in the UK.”