Today is “Opposition Day.”
These days are allocated in the House of Commons for the discussion of subjects chosen by the opposition parties.
The Labour government announced in January that plans to rebuild 40 new hospitals have been delayed.
Work on repairs and new facilities in Sutton borough are not scheduled to begin until 2033 at the earliest.
The Liberal Democrat motion to be voted on in Parliament will call on the government to reverse the delay to the New Hospital Programme and create a crumbling hospitals taskforce to bring construction dates forward.
It will also criticise the previous Conservative government for failing to have a realistic plan to fund the new hospitals.
In a joint statement, Liberal Democrat MPs Bobby Dean (Carshalton and Wallington), Luke Taylor (Sutton and Cheam), Paul Kohler (Wimbledon), Helen Maguire (Epsom and Ewell) and Chris Coghlan (Dorking and Horley), said:
“For years, patients in our area have had to put up with crumbling facilities and unacceptably long A&E waits at St Helier.
“It’s clear the Conservatives made promises they couldn’t keep over St Helier. Now the Labour government has failed to deliver the change they promised and kicked the can down the road on fixing our local health services.
“We are demanding urgent repairs to St Helier – so that local people can access the care they need, when they need it – and a new hospital building in Sutton Borough urgently.
“Every day we hear from countless patients and staff who are aghast at how long they have to wait for the repairs and facilities we so badly need. No one in hospital should have to worry about crumbling roofs or dilapidated buildings.
“The Liberal Democrats will hold the government’s feet to the fire on this and put pressure on them to speed up these vital works. It is critical that we upgrade our health services so people can finally access the care they deserve.”
