Local Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Priti Patel, has backed Broomfield hospital's bid to secure £3 million to improve capacity in the Accident and Emergency Department. The Government announced in the Spring Budget 2017 an additional £100 million cash injection to support hospital A&E Departments. The NHS intends for this additional funding to be used to build capacity on hospital sites that will improve patient pathways and primary care services. Priti commented:
“I wholeheartedly welcomed the Government’s announcement in the Spring Budget of £100 million to improve A&E Departments - which Labour didn’t back - and give my full support to the Trust’s bid to build capacity in it’s A&E.
The pressures on A&E are startlingly clear - before the start of this year, about 220 patients went through A&E every 24 hours but by spring 2016 numbers were frequently far higher. On one day in April, an unprecedented 314 people came to A&E and in September daily figures often exceeded that. On 26 September 2016, for example, there were 334 patients in A&E. The prevailing winter only added to these numbers.
The bid by Mid Essex Hospital Services Trust will allow for the creation of new spaces at each hospital site for patients who arrive at A&E who do not need urgent care, freeing-up doctors and nurses whilst improving access and patient experience.
I have a record on campaigning for better healthcare provision and accessibility for my constituents not least in my campaign to build a new, fully integrated and multipurpose health centre in Witham. I have contacted Mr Simon Stevens to add my name the bid. If I am re-elected on 8 June, I will continue to work closely with the NHS and be the strong voice that Witham needs because the Conservatives are the Party of the NHS.”