Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, urged the Health Secretary to look kindly and swiftly on the proposal to unlock £7 million of funding for a Day Case Unit at Hinckley Hospital – which would be the third in a series of significant investments in local healthcare infrastructure.
The GP turned MP called on the Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay MP, to give the green light to the local NHS’ business case proposal for using £7 million – given to Hinckley Hospital in 2018 – for a Day Case Unit.
A Day Case Unit will enable local people to undergo procedures from Hinckley Hospital.
Dr Evans’ request comes shortly after news that hundreds of millions of pounds has been granted for two new hospitals, a midwifery-led unit and multi-storey car park at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital and General Hospital in Leicester.
The green light for University Hospitals Leicester funding comes six months after news that £14.5 million had been given to Hinckley Hospital for a Community Diagnostic Centre. The testing unit will deliver over 125,000 MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds, X-rays and blood tests per year from the Hinckley Mount Road site.
Bosworth’s MP raised the proposal to use the £7 million funding with Health Minister Maria Caulfield last year, as he called the Unit the “final piece of the puzzle”.
Speaking in the House of Commons Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, said “I thank the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for his serious investment in Leicestershire, with £14 million for the diagnostic centre in Hinckley and now part of that £20 billion going to Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital, including for upgrading the car park.
“But there is one final part. In 2018 we had £7 million allocated to Hinckley for improvements, but due to covid and the community diagnostic centre investment, the business plan has changed to a Day Case Unit. The money is there. Will he remove the red tape and look on this kindly and swiftly?”
The Health Secretary, Steve Barclay MP, responded “The Member for Bosworth is right to highlight the series of investments that we have made in his local area.
“On the specific case he raises, he will know that the business case needs regional approval, and that is currently with NHS colleagues. But I am happy to commit to him that once that is received, we will look at it very keenly.”
Commenting after his question to the Health Secretary, Dr Evans said “I’m keen to see the Day Case Unit be given the green light.
“I have been campaigning for this investment – which would be the third significant improvement to our health infrastructure – since I become your MP in 2019 and will continue to champion and support our local NHS as they build on services in our area.
“When people are ill, the last thing they want to do is wait for an appointment and then travel to a large hospital for a small procedure. This Unit would help to take that burden away, by providing more high-quality services locally."
You can watch Luke’s question to the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpfkdPFvXHQ
I have attached a photo of Luke raising this issue in Parliament, please do use it if you print this story.
You can find out more about the recently announced funding for University Hospitals Leicester here: https://www.drlukeevans.org.uk/news/new-leicester-hospitals
