Local Basildon MPs, John Baron and Stephen Metcalfe, have welcomed the funding for local hospitals
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, has announced that £600 million has been allocated to upgrade and refurbish hospitals across England. This will be used to tackle critical maintenance work, refurbish wards, install brand-new electrics, improve fire safety and upgrade ventilation systems. In total, almost 1,800 projects across 178 trusts will benefit, with work completed by March 2021. Our own local trust, the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, is set to receive £7,400,000 of funding to upgrade and refurbish local hospitals, including Basildon Hospital.
“I welcome this substantial investment in our hospitals" ~ John Baron MP
The funding is part of a £1.5 billion announced by the Prime Minister in the summer to level up hospital infrastructure across the NHS. While £600 million will be spent on these critical maintenance upgrades, the remainder will be spent on modernising mental health facilities, expanding A&E capacity and improving infection control ahead of winter.
John Baron, Member of Parliament for Basildon & Billericay, said: “I welcome this substantial investment in our hospitals, which includes funding 29 projects up to a total value of over £7 million across the Mid and South Essex Hospitals Foundation Trust. This is part of the Government’s programme of investment in the NHS in light of the pandemic, which will help our health service maintain its world-class facilities and standards.”
"At last year’s General Election, the Conservatives promised to invest in the NHS, and I am pleased to see the Government is doing just that.” ~ Stephen Metcalfe MP
While his colleague and constituency neighbour, Stephen Metcalfe, Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrck, added: “I am delighted that Mid and South Essex will benefit from Government funding to carry out vital maintenance work over the coming months. These crucial projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to patients, helping to build back better after the pandemic. At last year’s General Election, the Conservatives promised to invest in the NHS, and I am pleased to see the Government is doing just that.”
The Health Secretary said: “Alongside delivering on our manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals and 20 major hospital upgrades across the country, this investment will help our NHS build back better. These crucial maintenance projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to their patients this winter, helping ensure the NHS is always there for you when you need it.”