James Wild MP for North West Norfolk secured a meeting this week with the new Health Minister leading on the new hospitals programme.
Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, Minister of State for Health, met James within a few weeks of his appointment to review QEH’s bid to be one of the new hospital schemes.
During the meeting James set out the improvements at QEH with the hospital coming out of special measures due to staff efforts and the importance of improved facilities to deliver better care.
He highlighted the impact on patients and staff of the reinforced autoclaved concrete (RAAC) and the new figures QEH released which show that there are now 2500 timber and steel supports in place which underlines QEH’s position as the most propped hospital in the country. They spoke about the risk to safety which James has highlighted repeatedly in Parliament which the Trust is managing. James showed the minister photos of the props in wards and across the hospital taken during the visits of previous health secretaries and minister that he secured.
Commenting after the meeting, James said:
“It was very welcome to have this early opportunity to review with the new Health Minister the real issues facing QEH patients and staff and to press our compelling case for a new hospital. I look forward to the Health Secretary visiting soon and I hope for a quick decision that QEH will get the new hospital that patients and staff need. This remains my priority and I’ll keep campaigning with strong local support and the backing of MPs across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire.”
