Today in the House of Commons Chamber, Daniel Kawczynski MP asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, about the Hospitals Transformation Programme, previously known as Future Fit, and about raising the quality of the sector's leadership and management. Daniel complained that the lack of cohesive leadership in the past had delayed the implementation of the Future Fit Programme.
In his reply, the Health Secretary said that if the business case is approved, then construction could commence in 2023 and be completed by 2028.
He added at the end of his reply that the Minister of State for Health, Edward Argar MP, will be visiting Shropshire soon.
Daniel welcomes the indication from the Health Secretary about a potential start date for construction of this £312million programme, which will improve the quality of health services delivered to Shropshire and mid-Wales.
Daniel Kawczynski MP Asked:
“What steps he is taking to raise the quality of leadership and management across the health and social care sectors?”
Secretary of State Replied:
“In health and care, strong leadership can make the difference between life and death. I have been clear that we can only accept the highest possible standards and in some cases, poor leadership has been tolerated for too long. That is why I have accepted the recommendations, in full, of General Sir Gordon Messenger's independent review and I will be setting out the delivery plan to begin what I think is going to be the biggest shakeup in health and social care leadership in a generation.”
Daniel Kawczynski MP Followed Up By Asking:
“I’d like to thank my Rt Hon friend for that answer.
“Bearing in mind that the NHS is going to be receiving approximately £180 billion this year of taxpayer’s money, improving leadership and management within the NHS is extremely important. No more so than in the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust where despite us obtaining £312 million from his Department, from the Treasury, to improve A&E services, a lack of cohesive leadership has resulted in no decision being taken as to how this money is going to be spent and with rising costs in the construction industry, this is of great concern to us. Will he intervene with our local hospital trust to make sure that this money is spent as expeditiously as possible and as quickly as possible?”.
Secretary of State Replied:
“Mr Speaker my Hon friend is absolutely right about the importance of leadership and first I am pleased to tell him that my Department just received the strategic outline case for his local A&E’s Future Fit Programme and it’s currently being reviewed and he will undoubtedly know that the business case process is led by the Trust and is supported by some early funding already. I also understand that the Trust is aiming to present the full business case in 2023 with construction starting in the same year and to be completed by 2028.
“Also I know that my Hon friend, the Health Minister, will be visiting Shropshire shortly and indeed will meet with him and other colleagues”.
