Bosworth Conservative parliamentary candidate, Dr Luke Evans, has welcome the news that Health bosses in Leicester have been given the full go-ahead to build a brand new hospital as part of a major push by the Conservatives to ensure the NHS is delivering for patients across the country.
The multi-billion pound new Health Infrastructure Plan will deliver a long-term, rolling five-year programme of investment in health infrastructure, including capital to build new hospitals, modernise our primary care estate, and invest in new diagnostics and technology.
As part of the Health Infrastructure Plan, 40 new hospitals will be built across England over the next decade. Six of the hospital builds are getting the full go-ahead today, and a further twenty one new build projects (consisting of thirty four new hospitals in total) are receiving seed funding to kick start their schemes. Other projects will be able to bid into this and other future waves too.
The package includes £200m to replace MRI, CT scanners and breast cancer screening equipment, so that no scanner in the NHS is more than 10 years old. And the Government is today confirming that the Department of Health and Social Care will receive a new multi-year capital settlement at the next capital review to develop capacity, plan effectively, get better value for money and deliver on the commitments we have already made.
The six hospitals getting the full go-ahead today are: Whipps Cross Hospital, Epsom and St Helier Trust, West Hertfordshire Trust, Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust, University Hospitals of Leicester Trust, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. These projects are being funded with a £2.7 billion cash injection of brand new money from the Treasury.
Welcoming the news, Dr Luke Evans commented:
I'm really pleased to see that the Government is investing in our healthcare in Leicestershire. This is good news for people in the region and I hope will lead to better outcomes for our patients from Bosworth, after all, this is what it is all about. I'm looking forward to my meeting with the Health Secretary this week to discuss the big cash injection, as well as raise the troubles currently faced by the Hinckley X-ray department."
The projects receiving the £100 million seed funding include Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge, the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham and the North Manchester General Hospital.
The new investment comes in addition to the £33.9 billion increase in cash funding for the day-to-day running of the NHS being delivered by the Government over the next five years.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“When I became Prime Minister, I promised to make sure that money for the NHS gets directly to the front line, so that patients consistently receive world-class care and NHS staff have the resources they need to provide this incredible service day in, day out. We’re already delivering on this, upgrading hospitals across the country. And today we’re investing more money to support our NHS. We’re providing additional funding for 40 new hospitals to be built over the next decade. This will transform our NHS for millions of patients and hard-working staff.
“I’ve spent the past two months visiting hospitals across the country, and I’ve seen first-hand the need to invest in our hospitals. We need to get Brexit done by October 31 so we can focus on investing in our NHS, providing more resources for staff and world-leading care for patients.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“I love the NHS and I'm incredibly excited to be able to launch the largest hospital building plan in a generation, with 40 new hospitals across the country. Too many of our hospitals are too old, and this £13 billion plan will build new state of the art hospitals, using the best technology, so our brilliant NHS staff have the best possible facilities to provide the best possible care.
“For too long, we’ve taken a short-term approach to NHS buildings and infrastructure, too often using a PFI system that has hamstrung hospitals for decades. Our new Health Infrastructure Plan is going to change that. Rather than the piecemeal and uncoordinated decisions of the past, we will be taking a strategic approach to improve health infrastructure and set the priorities for the NHS over the long term.
“I’ve seen first-hand the difference that world-class facilities can make for patients. At their best, well-designed wards with the right facilities can speed up recovery, ensure patients receive the right treatment, and get medication on time. The Health Infrastructure Plan will help ensure everyone in our country has access to the best possible healthcare when they need it, wherever they live, and whoever they are, for generations to come.
“Alongside our record £33.9 billion funding increase for the day to day running of the NHS, this is the largest, longest, financial settlement for the NHS in history. This investment is only possible thanks to our responsible management of the economy. Only Boris Johnson and the Conservatives will boost our economy, so that we can properly fund our vital public services and make sure our NHS is always there for you and your family.”