Mike Freer MP has welcomed the announcement from the Department of Health that the redevelopment of Stanmore hospital will go ahead. The plans are for a new, purpose built specialist orthopaedic hospital which will replace the existing dilapidated buildings, many of which date from the 1940s. The proposals had been agreed by the previous government but like all public spending had been put under review by the new coalition government.
Mike said, “The new government have been reviewing the previous administration’s pre-election spending commitments because of Labour’s brazen disregard for the dire state of the public finances. I’m delighted that the Department of Health have given Stanmore the go-ahead, recognising that a new specialist hospital is public money well spent.
Times are tough but the coalition government are still willing to back the NHS and support spending where it is really needed. The result will be a much better quality of service for patients in North London.”
Harrow Council has already granted outline planning permission for the £81 million redevelopment meaning the original scheduled completion date of 2014 is still attainable. The first stage of the development will include brand new wards and a state-of-the-art imaging department. More than 60% of the beds will be in single rooms, compared to 20% now, and all wards will be single sex.