Jo Churchill MP welcomes today’s announcement of the transformative £20 billion Government investment in hospitals, and further commitment to deliver a new fully funded West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
This fantastic day marks the culmination of a sustained 8-year campaign by Jo, working with leaders from across organisations, especially the West Suffolk Foundation Trust and recently with Programme Director, Gary Norgate. Jo thanks everybody who has got us this far.
It began in 2015, with Jo acknowledging the need and starting to ask for a new hospital. Many visits over the years, conversations with staff and residents, showed that our new hospital was needed for a growing town, and because ours was showing her age.
Despite government investment along the way, the need has grown, as has the shared vision. The green shoots were seen in March 2020 when the Department of Health approved the business case, confirming West Suffolk Hospital as one of the 40 new hospitals to be built under the New Hospital Programme.
Much has been achieved so far and the Trust’s ambitious plans, working with Jo, the Government, the Department of Health, and others, have led us to this exciting point. I hope by this time next year, we will see the start of buildings on our new site.
Today's announcement by the Secretary of State greenlights the construction of our state-of-the-art new hospital planned collaboratively to suit patients and staff. This 21st century build will be an exemplar blueprint hospital under the Hospital 2.0 programme, for others to follow. We are the first to use this new approach to building hospitals for our communities and look forward to leading the way.
This development will transform healthcare provision at the centre of our growing town and beyond.
Commenting, local MP Jo Churchill said:
This is a fantastic day, as plans to construct a new West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds become a reality! Since 2015, I have championed our need for a new hospital.
This has been many years in the making. We know we need it, we know patients and staff deserve it, now I am keen we get on and build it. Much of the preparation work has been done and I hope we will begin to see contractors being appointed and ground breaking within months.
I have pushed, as people have asked, to make sure we are front of the queue and our case has been recognised. I am incredibly proud of what we have done together so far, through passion and repeatedly driving home the need we have locally, to government, the local council, and other stakeholders.
Our hospital and staff are special and Bury has always offered excellent care. Now we can look forward to this being delivered in world-class facilities as we are first in line, serving as an exemplar hospital for others to follow. I look forward to breaking ground.
Commenting, Secretary of State or Health, Steve Barclay MP said:
These five hospitals are in pressing need of repair and are being prioritised so patients and staff can benefit from major new hospital buildings, equipped with the latest technology.
On top of this I’m strengthening our New Hospital Programme by today confirming that it is expected to represent more than £20 billion of new investment in hospital infrastructure.
As we approach the 75th anniversary of our fantastic NHS, this extra investment will ensure it can care for patients for decades to come and help cut waiting lists so they get the treatment they need quicker.
Commenting, Health Minister Lord Markham said:
We are investing in new NHS facilities across the country giving patients the certainty they can access world-leading care in state-of-the-art hospitals, both now and in the years to come.
In the immediate term, we’re focussing on quickly and safely rebuilding hospitals in areas which need it most – specifically those affected by this specific type of concrete, which poses a significant risk to patients and staff if not rebuilt by 2030.
In the long term, our new standardised design means we can rapidly replicate new hospitals across the country, helping speed up construction and improving services for patients faster.
Commenting, Senior Responsible Owner of the New Hospital Programme Natalie Forrest said:
This is a significant milestone for the New Hospital Programme as we continue to progress with delivering facilities for staff and patients at the cutting edge of modern technology with the experience of those who will use these hospitals at the heart of our focus.
We’re continuing to build healthcare infrastructure that improves patient care – including modern designs, creating single rooms ensuring maximum natural light and access to outdoor spaces. This new design will reduce the workload of NHS staff through digital solutions, well designed flow and designated areas for staff recuperation.
I look forward to continuing to work with all Trusts already in the programme and welcoming the new ones into the New Hospital Programme.
