High Peak MP Robert Largan used his first appearance in Prime Minister’s Questions to continue his campaign for new urgent care centres at Stepping Hill Hospital and Tameside General Hospital.
Dominic Raab MP, the First Secretary of State, was taking questions on behalf of the Prime Minister, who was absent due to the birth of his new baby boy.
The Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the need for increased urgent care capacity in the NHS. For the long-term health and well-being of High Peak residents, these urgent care systems will need continuing support and investment.
Robert asked the First Secretary of State to confirm the Government’s support for urgent care centres for Stepping Hill Hospital and Tameside General Hospital, and highlighted the added importance of these improvements in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The MP said in the Commons:
“The current crisis has shown just how important it is to have sufficient urgent care capacity in the NHS. I have been campaigning for new urgent care centres at both Stepping Hill Hospital and Tameside Hospital, to help NHS staff provide world-class care to people in High Peak and across the region. Can the First Secretary assure me that the Government remain committed to building these badly needed new urgent care centres?”
Dominic Raab MP, First Secretary of State, responded:
“I thank my honourable Friend for the way he is championing the NHS in a tenacious and doughty way. I am delighted that Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has been allocated close to £31 million for the provision of a new emergency care campus at Stepping Hill—one of our twenty hospital upgrades—and Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has also been allocated over £60 million to provide emergency and urgent care facilities at Tameside General Hospital.
“Conservatives are the party of the NHS. More money, more hospitals, more doctors and nurses, and that is one of the reasons we managed, through our critical care capacity, to help protect the NHS from becoming overwhelmed by Coronavirus.”
Robert Largan MP commented:
“I am really encouraged by the response from the First Secretary confirming the Government’s commitment to invest in new urgent care centres at Stepping Hill Hospital and Tameside General Hospital.
“The NHS has saved my life twice and I will always fight to defend it. These new urgent care centres will help NHS staff provide world class care for local people.”
