Thursday 24th March 2016

(8 years, 8 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Rupa Huq Portrait Dr Huq
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rose

Andrew Turner Portrait Mr Andrew Turner (in the Chair)
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Order. Before we continue, let me say that Members must abbreviate interventions.

Rupa Huq Portrait Dr Huq
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My hon. Friend makes an excellent point that I believe deserved to be made at length. She anticipates a point I will come on to about the business case and the capacity problem. There is a problem with the way these things are organised. The north-west London area does not include West Middlesex hospital, which she mentioned, but that is more proximate to some parts of my constituency than Northwick Park hospital, to which my constituents are being diverted even though it is miles away. That just shows that people do not think in terms of these boundaries.

--- Later in debate ---
Jane Ellison Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jane Ellison)
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On that specific point, as I am conscious that my hon. Friend might not be back, my noble Friend Lord Prior in the other place took a debate on this topic this week and undertook to set up a meeting with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and interested peers should there be any slippage in the timetable set out today by NHSI for approval of this important project. I know that that invitation will be extended to my hon. Friend as well, to give him a little assurance on that.

Andrew Turner Portrait Mr Andrew Turner (in the Chair)
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I call the Minister—no, Mr Blackman.

Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman
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Mr Turner, if I were the Minister, I would be ensuring that it was delivered, but that is another issue. I welcome the Minister’s remarks. Clearly, people will be watching and waiting. As she said, there was a debate in the other place only last week, and we had a good, positive answer during oral questions this week, assuring us that it is a key project for the health service. All those who are waiting with their pens poised could give us an Easter present of which we can all be proud on Maundy Thursday by signing off the business case, letting us get on with the project and ensuring that it is delivered for the benefit of all.