West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

5th February 2016

Anne Main has called for investment at Watford hospital to help with the maintenance of the elderly estate after the health minister, Ben Gummer, conceded that the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust required ‘additional capital expenditure.’

In questions in the House of Commons to the health minister, Anne asked ‘[w]hat more can be done to help hospital trusts that are struggling with a massive backlog of ongoing maintenance?’

Mr Gummer, replied that Anne was,

‘entirely right. I went to Watford a few weeks ago, and the buildings are in a poor state of repair. They do not enable clinicians to provide the high standards of care that they all aspire to; in many cases, it is difficult to do so. West Herts trust requires additional capital expenditure. I have talked with the trust about how it might realise that, and I am discussing that in the Department at the moment.’

Afterwards the St Albans MP said ‘I have already written to the health secretary after a series of closures to the adult minor injuries unit at Watford, asking if the trust was sufficiently resourced.

‘In the minister’s reply to my letter, he confirmed that local commissioners are developing a “business case for capital work to increase the capacity and effectiveness of the department.”

‘Whilst I have welcomed recent additional resources in St Albans, many of my constituents still use Watford General and often complain to me about the state of the buildings. 

‘I will of course continue to make the case for more services in St Albans.  In the meantime, if Watford needs additional resources to help with maintenance, and increase capacity in its A&E, then we must make that case.

‘I am pleased that this message has been heard loud and clear by the department of health, and there is recognition more needs to be done.’

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