Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South has welcomed the announcement that Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust will receive £58 million to redevelop its urgent care facilities at Queen Alexandra hospital.
The city MP has been working with the trust’s leadership team to secure the funding to ensure A&E services are fit for purpose for the future, but has today warned that longer-term investment is still needed to enhance care for patients and support for already stretched NHS staff.
Mr Morgan has helped by lobbying the Government, writing to Ministers, regularly meeting the QA’s Chief Executive, and invited the Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth MP to visit the hospital to see the challenges it faces first-hand.
Writing to Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, the Secretary of State, in July Stephen urged him to support the Trust’s proposal and provide Portsmouth with the much-needed cash injection.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
“‘The A&E department at QA dates back to 1979 and since its opening has seen daily attendance rise to almost 400 patients.
“Demand for urgent care continues to grow and our city desperately needs improvements to infrastructure to ease pressure. Simply put, the A&E at the QA is no longer fit for purpose.
“This funding injection announced today is a welcome and much needed investment into our hospital’s infrastructure. I am glad that lobbying the Government, writing to Ministers and inviting the Shadow Health Secretary to Portsmouth has helped.
“However, a well functioning and effective NHS is not just about buildings and equipment it’s also about dedicated people.
“I’d like to thank Mark and his leadership team and the dedicated doctors, nurses and NHS staff for their hard work in challenging circumstances.”
He continues:
“The NHS currently has nearly 100,000 vacancies and NHS Trusts are £1bn in deficit. After eight years of cuts and privatisation the NHS and social care are in crisis with record waits for treatment.
“As well as this funding, we need a longer term plan for investment in all areas of our NHS.”
Analysis by the Health Foundation found that health spending will see a £1 billion reduction next year. This means reductions to spending across health, workforce training and capital investment in building and equipment of £1 billion.
Jon Ashworth MP said:
“The NHS has a nearly million pound deficit, and despite this, staff are working incredibly hard both in Portsmouth and across the country to give patients the best quality of care they can.
“In Stephen Morgan, the city has an MP who is fighting hard to make sure local health services in Portsmouth get the resources they need.”
“Today’s announcement just shows the difference Labour MPs campaigning for their local hospital can make. Thanks to Stephen for inviting me down earlier in the year.”
