Gideon challenges Health Secretary to deliver on promise
A Health Minister has agreed to meet Taunton & Wellington MP Gideon Amos to discuss bringing forward a new maternity and paediatric unit for Musgrove Park Hospital.
The unit has been included in the government’s funding programme – but isn’t scheduled to happen until 2033.
Gideon has been campaigning for the work to be brought forward and raised the issue in Parliament during a Westminster Hall debate on NHS capital spending.
He described the “dire state” of the current maternity unit.
“In the summer, we have medical staff fainting in the 30° heat in single-storey buildings that were built in World War Two, and in the winter, we have holes in the walls and rows of buckets in corridors to catch the water.
“We even have roof guttering mounted inside the building in several locations to deal with the leaks.”
Gideon said he welcomed the Government’s increased capital spending for the NHS.
But he added: “Last year, as a result of cross-party campaigns and to the Government’s credit, Taunton and Somerset got a glass-half-full announcement about the hospital programme – it was included in the second wave of funding.
“Unfortunately, that is not until 2033, which is later than is needed. We need action before that.”
Gideon referred to a recent BBC interview with the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, in which he had said the government “would do our best to bring forward schemes.”
Taunton & Wellington’s MP said he was working closely with the hospital trust.
“They have sensible plans that could expedite those projects and get on with the vital planning work that we know needs to happen so far ahead of the project. That could be started next year.
“Can the Minister meet with me at some point to look realistically at the trust’s proposals to expedite the vital need for a maternity unit in Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton?”
Summing up, at the end of the debate, Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Secondary Care, said: “To the Honourable Member for Taunton and Wellington, let me say that I have met NHS England about looking at maternity in the area, which I know is a huge concern, and I am happy to meet him.”
Constituent Nick Kilby contacted Gideon after his newly-born daughter was put on a ward where there was mould on the wall and ceiling.
He said: "It should be a clinically safe place to bring new lives into the world - it's absolute madness.
"I wouldn't have this in my own home and certainly don't expect to see it in a hospital."
Nick said he was fully behind efforts to bring forward the new maternity and paediatric until.
"They need new everything really - and the sooner the better."