Ed Miliband tells Government to ‘make good on promises’ and deliver a new hospital for Doncaster

Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband met Health Secretary Javid earlier this week in the House of Commons to press the case for the ‘long-promised’ new hospital for Doncaster.

Mr Miliband asked for the meeting following the re-submission of the bid for the new hospital.

Doncaster was not included in the initial announcement of new hospital plans, despite warm words from ministers.

There is no concrete date for an announcement on a further eight hospitals but the Department for Health has previously said a decision is likely to come around October time.

Doncaster Royal Infirmary – which was first built in the 1930s – needs hundreds of millions in repairs and last year procedures had to be cancelled when water leaked onto power supplies.

Mr Javid, who visited DRI last month, remained tight-lipped on the bidding process but did say the trust’s application was a ‘very good business plan’.

The Health Secretary was also told that government investment in tackling the massive Covid-19 backlog is made harder by the current state of Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

This was exasperated further by water leaks in April and September last year which affected the women’s and children’s services.

Back In April, 67 patients had to be moved and routine procedures were cancelled after a leak in the building came into contact with the electrical mains

Mr Miliband said: “Doncaster needs a new hospital. We have had lots of promises from government. Now it needs to make good on these promises and deliver.

“Doncaster has put in an excellent bid and the new hospital would make a big difference to the Borough.

“It’s a sensible, worthwhile investment which is much needed given that the old site is ageing and much in need of repair.

“It would make a difference to meeting the health needs of my constituents and to economic regeneration and I’m determined to keep pressing the government on this important issue.”

The new hospital – if approved by government – would be situated on derelict land along the town centre Waterfront and could also home a university centre for training health care professionals.