Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's timetable is for the completion of the new Urgent Care and Emergency Centre at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service is broken and this Government is determined to fix it. We recognise the need for investment in our estate across the country.

As the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced, and as subsequently confirmed in the Chancellor’s statement on 29 July 2024, there is a full and comprehensive ongoing review of the New Hospital Programme, to provide a realistic and costed timetable for delivery. This will take into account the urgent need to rebuild the seven hospitals built mostly using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete to protect staff and patient safety.

The Secretary of State will consider the findings and update Parliament on the outcome of the review reporting back to patients, clinicians, and local communities on the next steps for the New Hospital Programme. We will provide a clear and realistic timetable for delivery of the Programme and agree the investment needed to get patients the care they deserve.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for the proposed urgent and emergency care centre at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise the need for investment in our estate across the country, including in Plymouth. As my rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced, and as subsequently confirmed in the Chancellor’s statement on 29 July 2024, there is a full and comprehensive ongoing review of the New Hospital Programme, to provide a realistic and costed timetable for delivery. This will consider the urgent need to rebuild the seven hospitals built mostly using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete to protect staff and patient safety.

The Secretary of State will consider the findings and update Parliament on the outcome of the review reporting back to patients, clinicians, and local communities on the next steps for the New Hospital Programme. We will provide a clear and realistic timetable for delivery of the Programme and agree the investment needed to get patients the care they deserve.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on the the construction of the new A&E unit at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston; and when he expects the construction to be completed.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The new build and refurbishment of the Emergency Department and Urgent Treatment Centre at the Pilgrim Hospital is taking place in two phases. The first phase, which is a new build, is on track to be completed by February 2025, with the subsequent refurbishment of existing buildings due to be completed by January 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the accident and emergency department in Cheltenham General Hospital will continue to be a Type 1 consultant-led A&E department between 8am and 8pm, in the context of proposed changes to the provision of acute medical take in that hospital.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Gloucestershire health system carried out public consultation in 2020, as well as further engagement between 2022 and 2023, on shaping the future of hospital services. As set out in the proposals, Cheltenham General Hospital will continue to provide a consultant-led emergency department from 8:00am to 8:00pm, and a nurse-led minor injuries and illness unit from 8:00pm to 8:00am, with an intensive care service for critically unwell patients.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time was for patients at the Royal Bolton Hospital Emergency Department in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

This information is not available in the format requested. The latest published National Health Service data, from June 2024, shows that 61.8% of patients were admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

The Government is committed to supporting the NHS in reducing accident and emergency waiting times, and returning to the standards patients should expect as set out in the NHS Constitution.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times at accident and emergency departments in (a) Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske, (b) Derriford Hospital and (c) North Devon District Hospital.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to supporting the National Health Service to reduce accident and emergency (A&E) waiting times and achieve the standards set out in the NHS Constitution. In doing so, we will be honest about the challenges facing the health service and serious about tackling them.

As a first step, my rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has appointed Lord Darzi to lead an independent investigation of NHS performance. This will report in September 2024.

Health services in Shropshire

Found: Accident and emergency departments?’. This question was not asked in 2020.

Found: people with Crohn’s and Colitis had to wait over a year for diagnosis, with almost half ending up in Accident