Julia Lopez MP has written to the new Health Secretary, James Murray MP, to press for an urgent update on plans to expand and transform the A&E department at Queen’s Hospital.
Mrs Lopez has been supporting Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust in its application for £35 million of funding to remodel Queen’s A&E, which continues to operate well beyond its original intended capacity.
In her letter, Julia highlighted the serious pressures facing the hospital and the concerns regularly raised with her by residents across Hornchurch and Upminster who have experienced long waits and overcrowding when attending Queen’s for emergency care.
The redevelopment campaign follows the opening of the St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hornchurch, which Julia helped to secure under the previous government. With more services now being delivered in the community, Julia believes there is a clear opportunity to reorganise space at Queen’s and better equip the A&E department to meet current demand.
A formal submission for the funding has been made to NHS England. A decision had been expected before the summer, and Julia has asked the new Health Secretary to provide an update on both NHS England’s and the Department for Health and Social Care’s consideration of the project.
Julia Lopez MP said:
“Queen’s A&E is under enormous pressure and residents continue to write to me about the difficult experiences they have had when seeking emergency care.
“The staff at Queen’s work incredibly hard, but the department is operating at more than double its original intended capacity. Expanding and remodelling A&E is not a luxury request. It is now essential.
“Having helped secure the new NHS hub at St George’s in Hornchurch, there is an opportunity to bring more services into the community while making better use of space at Queen’s. I will keep pressing the new Health Secretary for the funding needed to get this done.”
