Local MP presses Health Secretary on hospital funding

Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven met with the Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt MP at the Department for Health, to discuss issues surrounding funding for the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

The hospital, which is in Mr Kirby’s constituency, is earmarked for £420 million of redevelopment funding. However there has been some concern over the delays in the release of those funds.

Mr Kirby said,

“There is a clear need for redevelopment at the RSCH; some of the wards have been operating since the time of Florence Nightingale! I was delighted that the Government announced a comprehensive funding package totalling £420million, however that investment is needed urgently. The ongoing delays we are seeing in the release of that funding cannot be allowed to continue.

“I have been speaking to both the Treasury and the Department of Health about this situation and I was pleased to meet with the Health Secretary in Westminster this afternoon. I made sure he was aware how important this issue is for my constituents and urged him to do whatever he can to expedite the release of these funds.

“As the local MP for the area I will continue to do what I can to make the redevelopment of the RSCH a reality as soon as possible because people in my constituency deserve the best possible service.”