REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has voiced her frustration at how long the £29m healthcare investment promised by the Government in July is taking to reach the place where it is most needed.
The cash boost was confirmed by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England boss Simon Stevens and will see the Worcestershire Royal Hospital getting upgraded maternity wards, theatres and children’s services, while the Alexandra Hospital will get extra money for improvements to the elective care centre, endoscopy, children’s outpatients and an upgrade in theatres.
Mrs Maclean made the hospital her number one priority when elected in June, which is why she was delighted when £29m was pledged shortly after the election.
However, while the money has been approved it has still not arrived.
Mrs Maclean expressed her disappointment that a project which will take some considerable time to plan, design and deliver, is still held up at the initial stage, meaning the Trust can’t appoint architects or start any work. She has held several meetings to try to speed things up and on Monday she met with Dale Bywater, head of NHS Improvement in Parliament.
“While I agree public money needs to be spent carefully, the people of Redditch have been promised these funds for our hospital for some time now.
“We need to see action, and we need to see building work starting sooner rather than later.
“I will continue to push so we get the first-class health services we deserve. I am frustrated this is taking so long, and it simply isn’t good enough.”
