Somerset’s members of parliament have expressed dismay after the government declined to allocate funds for much-needed repairs at Musgrove Park Hospital. The hospital, located in Taunton, was supposed to be part of the Conservatives' new hospitals program, which had committed to delivering “40 new hospitals” by 2030.
However, a post-election review revealed that many of these new or reconstructed hospitals were “behind schedule, unfunded, and therefore undeliverable,” resulting in numerous project postponements. Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP announced in January that the essential upgrades for Musgrove Hospital would be delayed until 2033. The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust confirmed in early March that the planned construction of a second multi-storey car park was also indefinitely postponed.
Liberal Democrat MPs from the county have condemned the government for its failure to provide funding for urgent repairs, warning that it puts both staff and patients at risk. During an opposition debate on the future of England’s hospitals, Lib Dem health and social care spokesperson Helen Morgan MP criticized both the current and previous governments for betraying the promised hospital improvements.
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The MPs are insisting on urgent action, demanding the prompt delivery of the new hospitals that were previously pledged to patients and communities. They are calling for immediate interim funding to ensure the hospital’s survival until 2033 when the promised funding is expected.
Karin Smith MP, the minister for secondary care, acknowledged the urgent need for hospital repairs, blaming the NHS’s dilapidated state on years of underfunding and budget diversions. Chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves MP has allocated targeted estate safety funding and further funds for urgent repairs, emphasizing the importance of addressing the backlog and the dilapidated state of hospitals.
The liberal Democrat motion to prioritize hospital repairs was defeated, prompting disappointment and renewed determination from MPs to continue advocating for the essential investment necessary for hospital redevelopment.