Answers needed on Stepping Hill funding

MPs Tom Morrison and Lisa Smart have written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to ensure that a promise for urgent funding for Stepping Hill is not derailed by the Government’s funding black hole.

While the Department of Health and Social Care made a press statement stating that “We will provide the investment and reform needed to get patients the care they deserve,” no more detail has been provided as to what this means, and no response has yet been received by the MPs to their original request for funding.

Lisa Smart said: “The statement from the Department was helpful, but we immediately said that we needed detail as to what it meant. So far none has been received.

“Since then, we have seen pictures of doctors wading through corridors to get to patients after pipes burst. This is wholly unacceptable and we need more detail as to what they are actually proposing, and when.”

Since the statement by the Department of Health, the Labour Government has paused the national hospital building programme, adding to the concerns that the MPs have.

Tom Morrison added: “We remain hopeful that the urgently needed funding that Stepping Hill needs can be delivered. Our residents deserve nothing less.

“Nevertheless, in the light of the statements from the Labour Government cutting spending – on hospitals, on winter fuel payments and more – then we must hold Labour’s feet to the fire and ensure they deliver what they promised.”