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Kettering General Hospital — [Derek Twigg in the Chair]
02 February 2022
Lead MP
Philip Hollobone
Kettering
Con
Responding Minister
Edward Argar
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 4045
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Philip Hollobone raised concerns about kettering general hospital — [derek twigg in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The MP asks the Government to provide immediate provision of the £46 million sustainability and transformation partnership wave 4b funding. He also requests confirmation that NHS's new hospitals programme team will approve Kettering hospital's strategic outline case for redevelopment, so an outline business case can be submitted by May 2022. Additionally, he seeks clarity on eligibility for £53 million slippage from other hospital development schemes.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The redevelopment of Kettering General Hospital is critical for addressing the healthcare needs in Northamptonshire. The hospital, which turned 125 this year, has been promised £46 million for an urgent care hub and a total investment package of £563 million from various funding streams. However, the hospital has not yet received the cash required to proceed with initial enabling works. There are three main risks: delays in receiving feedback on business case submissions, insufficient funds for essential site preparations, and potential loss of slippage money due to larger hospital development schemes.
Andrew Lewer
Con
South Northamptonshire
Agrees with the motion's point about integration between Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital, highlighting opportunities for more efficient working. Mr Lewer suggested that the Minister visit Northampton hospital on the way to Kettering, highlighting close working between both hospitals under the same NHS trust umbrella. He acknowledged the need for more investment in Northampton hospital as well.
Government Response
Edward Argar
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering on securing this debate. By my tally, this is the fourth debate I have responded to that he has secured on the future of Kettering General Hospital and its redevelopment. My hon. Friend the Member for Kettering made, as ever, a generous offer to visit Kettering General Hospital with him. It was a pleasure to do so in 2019, when he gave me a very warm welcome in Kettering. I also take his suggestion of visiting Northampton at the same time. Without setting a specific date, my aim is to try to visit him during the February recess—I will discuss this with him. As my hon. Friend set out, Kettering General Hospital is part of the broader foundation trust and continues to work closely with the central programme team in taking forward the rebuild of Kettering General as a new hospital for his community. It is part of the broader programme to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has received £4.4 million of funding to develop its plans for the rebuilding of Kettering General Hospital. They were successful in securing funding back in 2019, at that stage for a new urgent care hub, which would transform the provision of urgent and critical care in the area. I know that officials are in discussion with the chief executive of the hospital trust regarding the trust's plans for enabling works on the Kettering General Hospital site and have set out what will be required for these proposals to be assessed as quickly as possible, once business cases are received from the trust. The Department wrote to the chief executive on 16 June last year to confirm that, at his request, the urgent care hub and new hospital programme schemes could be brought together as a single pot of money, to maximise the benefits that local people could derive. Kettering General Hospital is required to work with the central team and regional/local trust leadership to design and deliver their hospitals in keeping with a consistent and standardised national approach. All projects need to ensure that their approach aligns with this programme. The second element is the new boiler room and power plant, which would have to go through the full approvals process, but I understand that the board of the trust is due to meet in April to agree and finalise its proposal and business case on that work. As soon as it submits that, my officials will consider those proposals swiftly, once they have received them. All new hospitals need funding profiling made available by the Treasury. Although I cannot prejudge in this place that Kettering will be top of the list, he makes a strong case for Kettering to be one of the hospitals considered for acceleration if it is ready and the moneys become available. I am keen to see all these schemes progress and continue working closely with my hon. Friend.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.