On Friday James was at QEH to see the new £2 million Same Day Emergency Care Unit I saw which was kitted out with the latest technology to reduce pressure on the emergency department and mean patients avoid unnecessary overnight stays.
Nurses who took James round are under real pressure but they were looking forward to the extra capacity and the new facilities. James was also shown the construction works taking place on the expanded emergency department which is on track to open in April. Both projects are designed to reduce pressure on the emergency department and improve ambulances handover times as too many people are waiting too long at the moment.
This was also an opportunity to talk to the Chairman of the Trust about the campaign for a new QEH. I was able to update him on the important meetings I had with the Health Secretary and Treasury minister last week. The need to deal with the RAAC is accepted and now my focus is on getting the announcement confirming QEH will be part of the new hospitals programme as soon as possible.
Three years on from James' first speech in the House of Commons making that case, I once again spoke in Parliament this week and called on the government to give patients and staff the certainty now that the QEH will be rebuilt by 2030. Now is the time to keep up the pressure.
