Health minister, Karin Smyth, has failed to provide a firm decision or timetable for the proposed £42 million expansion of the accident and emergency department at Queen’s Hospital as the campaign to remodel the service continues.
The response followed further correspondence from Julia Lopez MP in which she pressed the Government for progress on the plans and highlighted the urgent need to improve emergency care facilities for local patients.
In her reply, Minister Smyth outlined the Government’s wider capital investment in urgent and emergency care, including more than £302 million for the NHS London region. This funding is intended to expand bed capacity, support same day emergency care and improve ambulance handover performance.
However, the response did not confirm whether the Queen’s Hospital expansion would receive funding, when a decision would be made or how the proposal was progressing through NHS England’s assessment process.
Smyth said decisions on individual capital schemes were taken through NHS England’s established processes and that it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome. She has asked departmental officials to keep her updated and has promised to inform Mrs Lopez as decisions are taken.
Julia Lopez MP said:
“While the Government’s wider investment in urgent and emergency care is welcome, this response provides no substantial update on the proposed expansion at Queen’s Hospital. I hope it is just a holding reply with good news to come.
“Queen’s serves a large and growing population, yet its emergency department continues to face enormous pressure. The proposed expansion is vital to improving patient care, increasing capacity and ending the unacceptable use of corridors to treat patients.
“Local residents deserve clarity about whether this important project will proceed and when a decision will finally be made.
“I will continue pressing ministers and NHS England for a firm answer and the investment Queen’s Hospital urgently needs.”
