Rachel Maclean, the MP for Redditch County, is to hold regular meetings with the Chief Executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to make sure the Trust is doing everything it can to submit their full business case for capital funding as soon as possible.
Speaking to Michelle McKay last week, Rachel discussed her concerns about the time it is taking the Trust to get on with submitting their full business case to the Department for Health and Social Care to access the remaining £29.6million worth of capital funding.
So far, thanks in part to Rachel’s lobbying efforts, the Department has released £3million to the Acute Trust which will be used to construct a link bridge between the main Worcestershire Royal and the second floor of the Aconbury East building. This will improve patient flow and increase bed capacity. Rachel has been assured this link bridge will be in place ready for next Winter.
The Department has also recently approved the Trust’s application to draw down £5million from the capital funding pot. This will be spent on a number of emergency projects, including improving the safety of the Trust’s estate to enhance the quality of patient services.
A further bid for an £8million advance of capital funding has been submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care by the Trust. Health bosses will use this funding to accelerate the refurbishment of the Aconbury East building in a bid to provide an additional 40 acute beds ahead of next Winter.
Although the Trust has received a significant amount of the capital funding, Rachel has previously urged health bosses to get on with submitting the full business case so they can access the remainder of the funding.
The rest of the cash boost will be spent on upgraded maternity wards, theatres and children’s services at Worcestershire Royal, while the Alex will get extra money to pay for improvements to the elective care centre, endoscopy, children’s outpatients and an upgrade in theatres.
Following the phone call between Rachel and Michelle, they have both agreed to hold regular meetings to discuss the progress of the full business case.
Rachel said: “As I’ve previously said, the ball is in the Acute Trust’s court.
“I appreciate putting together a full business case is a complex process, but I want to ensure the Trust is doing everything it can to move this process on and get the investment delivered into our hospitals.
“After speaking with Michelle McKay, I know this is a top priority for the Trust. I look forward to regular meetings with Michelle to scrutinise their progress between now and when the full business case is submitted.
“Once the Trust’s bid for £8million has been approved, and I will be lobbying Health Ministers on this, it will mean over half of the funds of the total capital funding amount have been invested in healthcare for the benefit of people in Redditch.
“As a resident of Redditch myself I want what’s best for the people of this town and this means holding health bosses to account in order to achieve this.”
