Declares that following the announcement of the New Hospital Programme Review, patients across South West Devon and across the South West are deeply concerned as to the future of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust’s new Urgent and Emergency Care Facility at Derriford; further declares that the new Urgent and Emergency Care Facility is essential for the NHS to be able to accommodate for the region’s above-average population growth; further that the new facility will treat the sickest patients more quickly, avoid unnecessary admissions, facilitate early discharge and improve outcomes; and notes that UHP’s former Member of Parliament had secured £180 million of government funding for the project.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to consider the resource needs of University Hospital Plymouth’s new Urgent and Emergency Care Facility whilst undertaking the New Hospital Programme Review and retain the funding previously committed to this project.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Rebecca Smith, Official Report, 28 October 2024; Vol. 755, c. 641.]
[P003015]
Observations from the Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth):
The Government understand the importance of delivering a new Derriford emergency care hospital, Plymouth for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and appreciate that it is an uncertain time for patients across the south-west.
We have confirmed that we are committed to delivering the New Hospital Programme (NHP), and the vital infrastructure it provides for staff and patients, but will put forward a realistic, affordable and deliverable plan.
The review has fed into decisions that were taken in the Budget and, as set out by the Chancellor on 30 October 2024, we will publish the outcome of the review into the NHP in due course, alongside the new delivery schedule for the programme. This will allow patients, trusts and the local communities to understand when their much-needed new hospital will be delivered.
In the meantime, the Government continue to support the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust with the development of their new hospital scheme. Up to the end of the 2023/24 financial year, the trust have received £25.2 million in funding for their NHP scheme.