Dr Neil Hudson MP has urged the Labour Government to confirm when the new Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone and Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow will be built and that the new Community Diagnostic Centre at St Margaret's Hospital in Epping will go ahead as planned to benefit people across Epping Forest and the wider region. The previous Conservative Government committed to these projects.
However, since Labour entered office, the new Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has ordered a review of every new hospital being built.
In Parliament, Wes Streeting also refused to provide a timetable for when the review will be completed or when local people can expect the new hospital to be completed.
Dr Hudson submitted Written Parliamentary Questions to the Health Secretary asking whether the Hospital Rebuilding Programme and planned Community Diagnostic Centre projects will be completed and will continue to push the new Government to provide certainty to the people in Epping Forest.
Dr Hudson initially raised the issue with Ministers in his first speech as MP for Epping Forest following the recent General Election and has promised to make bolstering local healthcare infrastructure a cornerstone of his campaigning.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, said:
“People across Epping Forest and our wider region rightly want to see our last Conservative Government's Hospitals Rebuilding Programme and pledged Community Diagnostic Centre to be completed as soon as possible, so that they can access the world-class services they deserve.
“Now that Labour have launched a review of every new hospital being built, the Health Secretary must tell us when we can expect to see construction completed and doors open to patients.
“I am working constructively with the new Government to ensure improved hospital facilities are delivered at St Margaret’s, Princess Alexandra and Whipps Cross- and as quickly as possible.”
Shadow Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins MP said:
“We will support Labour to deliver every hospital that has been pledged, but the new Health Secretary must set out a clear timetable so patients and staff know when they will start to benefit from the new facilities.
“Until then, Labour are leaving patients in limbo about the future of their new hospital.
“Labour must urgently complete its review so that doors are open to patients by 2030.”
You can read Dr Hudson's comments on local hospitals in his first speech as Epping Forest's MP from 3:31pm here: hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-07-23/debates/C133D2F0-7130-4DE8-BA4D-6E04AD0F5703/ImmigrationAndHomeAffairs#contribution-0B3EA7F1-DBF8-47CB-95BB-E2DBF300C491
