Giles Watling, Member of Parliament for Clacton, has welcomed the announcement that the Government will invest £14.7m in the redevelopment of Clacton Hospital. This comes as part of a wider funding package across Suffolk and North Essex worth £87m.
This funding will enable the first phases of the redevelopment of services at Clacton Hospital through the development of outpatient, minor injury, diagnostic and primary care units on the site, which will be of benefit to the local community.
That investment, announced by Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 28th March 2018, also forms part of a wider regional funding package – which will support the development of new clinical strategies following the merger of Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals. Consequently, patients in Suffolk and North-East Essex, will be able to rely on transformed services, which will minimise the need for multiple attendances and movements across hospital sites.
Giles said:
“I am grateful to the Secretary of State for announcing this investment, which will bring real benefit to local residents by improving the patient experience.
“I recognise that residents have concerns about our local health services, and I will continue to follow up with officials at the Department of Health and Social Care, local NHS leaders and representatives of ACE to ensure that residents in Clacton can depend on the best health services.
“This is such superb news. I have been fighting to retain our local hospital services as the local MP, and also as a Councillor. I am proud to have worked with so many of our local representatives to achieve this stunning result.”