WORCESTER’S Conservative Parliamentary candidate has welcomed proposals for a multi-million pound investment in the county’s hospitals.
Robin Walker backed a pledge from Health Minister Phillip Dunne to improve facilities at both local hospitals and that a multi million pound investment is on its way.
The Conservative candidate warned Labour’s manifesto commitment to reopen hospital reviews and local clinically led plans would mean delaying or possibly even putting at risk vital investments.
Mr Walker referred to the Conservative manifesto which commits to increasing funding for the NHS by £8billion over and above inflation and commits the party to a programme of major capital investments in the NHS.
Mr Dunne said: “The staff in both Redditch and Worcester are working incredibly hard and doing an amazing job, but it’s clear the facilities on both sites need improving.
“Robin Walker and Rachel Maclean have both made a strong case to me about the critical need for certainty, support and investment for the hospitals.
“Plans for a substantial multi-million pound investment here, benefiting both sites, are well advanced and I am pleased to say that if a Conservative Government, under Theresa May, is re-elected on June 8 then this project will be a priority.
“Our recent manifesto committed to deliver the most ambitious programme of investment in buildings and technology the NHS has ever seen, and the hospitals here in Worcester and Redditch are a priority for that new funding,” he added.
In response, Mr Walker said: “This is a number one priority for my campaign and it is good to hear that millions of pounds of investment are on their way.
“Labour’s nonsensical plan to restart all the work done by local clinicians in consultation with communities across Worcestershire would undermine years of work to make the case for much needed investment.
“I am proud that in my first term in Parliament we secured a multi million pound oncology centre for Worcester, a new midwife led birth centre which recently won national awards and the wonderful new breast unit.
“I am proud the Conservatives in government have provided more money each year for our hospitals but I have been clear for years that we need an expansion of our A&E and capacity at our hospital.
“If re-elected I will continue to press for vital investments in our NHS and it is clear that Conservatives have a plan to deliver them,” he added.
