Day: May 1, 2014

The Chancellor of the Exchequer paid a surprise visit to Brighton today to announce the release of £420 million funding for the redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Simon Kirby MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven accompanied the Chancellor to the hospital where he met staff, local dignitaries and viewed plans for the redevelopment. Parts of the hospital predate Florence Nightingale.

The Chancellor paid tribute to Simon’s campaign saying: “Simon Kirby has proved a tireless and effective campaigner for this major re-development which will hugely benefit the people of Brighton and the surrounding area.”

Simon responded saying: “It was great to be able to show the Chancellor the existing facilities so he can see for himself what a difference this funding will make for patients and staff at the hospital.”

He continued: “Today’s announcement is great news for local people. Huge congratulations must go to the team at the Royal Sussex who worked so hard to put forward such a compelling case. It is only right that patients and staff will now have the very best facilities they deserve.

“I have been actively campaigning for a long time now for the £420 million funding to redevelop the Royal Sussex Hospital and would thank everyone who supported my campaign and took the time to sign my hospital petition, which I am sure made a real difference.”

The Chancellor said: “I am delighted that we have been able to green light the investment for the much needed redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County hospital. This is great news for Brighton and the whole local community.

“Bringing the buildings and facilities of this venerated hospital up to modern standards will enhance and improve patients’ care and experience.

“This investment once again demonstrates our commitment to protect and support the NHS. It is only possible because our long term economic plan has restored control of our public finances.”

The works at the Royal Sussex County hospital site will be fully financed from public funds as part of the Department of Health’s capital investment budget. Redevelopment works at the hospital site are expected to start later this year and complete by 2024. Plans will be finalised over the coming months, with all funding subject to final approvals as usual.

Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, Leader of the Conservative Group on Brighton & Hove City Council, said after thanking the Chancellor personally: “This is fantastic news for residents, not only of Brighton & Hove, but for the whole of Sussex.

“It is a real vote of confidence from the Government in the City and those doctors and nurses at the hospital who do such a wonderful job day in day out in dreadfully outdated accommodation.The £420 million will also provide a huge boost to the local economy with hundreds of new construction jobs being created over the next few years. I would like to congratulate Simon Kirby MP for his strong campaign to secure this funding.

“This large investment would not have been possible without the improvements in the national economy and it is quite right that the Treasury should be completely satisfied that the plans stack up financially. However, Simon deserves huge credit for his persistence in not letting Ministers, and particularly the Chancellor, forget just how much a new hospital means to Brighton & Hove. I would also like to place on record my thanks and congratulations to the management at the Trust for all the hard work they have put into this project over a number of years. They must be as relieved as I am that things can now get moving.”

Responding to the announcement, Nancy Platts the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Kemptown & Peacehaven said:  “I welcome the news of the funding but it raises questions about why it has taken so long. The previous Labour government laid the foundations for this work years ago but the Government is only approving the funding now.

“There have already been too many delays over recent years, what we need now are assurances that the money will be quickly released so that work can begin straight away.

“For too long we’ve had to put up with a hospital that pre-dates Florence Nightingale, this news is a victory for people power and common sense, not politicians. There has been a long running campaign to bring the hospital up to standard and I want to congratulate the staff and local people who kept on raising the issue.”

Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove & Portslade had also campaigned for the funding, said: “This funding is excellent news for NHS provision in Brighton & Hove. A new, state-of-the-art hospital has been long overdue and I am pleased that the Government has listened to the needs of local residents. While the redevelopment will take a number of years to complete, this announcement is a strong commitment from the Government to provide long-term quality healthcare suitable for the 21st century.”