Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, was pleased to welcome Rt Hon Andrew Lansley, CBE MP, Secretary of State for Health on his visit to the Lister Hospital to announce the government’s backing for the £72 million investment for the latest stage of development at the hospital.
Stephen said: “I am delighted to have worked closely with Ministers to secure this further £70 million investment in our local hospital. The Lister is now on course to be one of the most advanced and modern NHS facilities in the UK. This is fantastic news for Stevenage and builds on the government’s massive £250 million investment programme in our local schools, health service, housing and jobs, which is putting our town at the heart of the economic recovery.”
Stephen commented, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the staff who work with patients and their families on a day to day basis. Their daily dedication to make life better for local people is at the heart of the clinical excellence the Lister now offers.”
This latest £70 million investment will build on the work of the staff and allow completion of another eleven projects. The largest of these are the new Emergency Department, a new ward block and a new Theatre & Endoscopy block all due for completion in 2013.
“I am already looking forward to the official opening of the Maternity Unit, Surgicentre and multi-storey car park later this year.”, said Stephen McPartland.
“However, this is just the start”, Stephen said, “We need to keep the momentum going to ensure my campaign for a Satellite Radiotherapy Unit, based at the Lister is a success. I think of this as Phase 5 and would urge everyone who wants to bring Cancer Care closer to people’s homes to please join the campaign on Facebook or on my website www.stephenmcpartland.co.uk.”
“Protecting and improving our local NHS is a key priority”, Stephen emphasised, “and I will continue working with unions, managers, staff, clinicians and patients to deliver the best healthcare possible for local people and our hospital is now on course to be the best in the UK”.