ROBERT, MP for Harlow, welcomed the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Lord Markham, to Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) this week.

Following a decade of lobbying from Mr Halfon, the new hospital building programme was re-confirmed earlier this year by the Health Secretary Steve Barclay and will mean a new high-tech health campus backed by hundreds of millions of Government investment will be built in Harlow.

The Minister and Harlow’s MP toured the Hospital so that Lord Markham could see the site and also meet with representatives from NHS England to discuss the business plan that will mean the new hospital’s construction could begin in 2025.

Speaking to Your Harlow Mr Halfon said:

“I was delighted to meet with the Minister from the Department of Health, Lord Markham, to visit Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) in Harlow.

“We spent the morning touring the hospital and meeting with representatives from NHS England, including the CEO of PAH, Lance McCarthy, and the Director of Strategy and Estates, Michael Meredith, to discuss the confirmation and construction timeline for our new hospital and I am delighted that construction work could begin in 2025.

“I have nothing but huge admiration for everyone who works at the hospital: doctors, nurses, consultants, support staff, hospital leadership, and the volunteers who work tirelessly to care for our town. I am so pleased that their endless hard work has paid off and we will see a new state-of-the-art health campus in Harlow to support their work in just a few years time.

“I will continue to work hard to drive this development forward and to ensure that Harlow’s new hospital campus delivers exactly what is needed for our town.”

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health Lord Markham said:

“I am absolutely delighted to have visited Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust and seen the excellent care being provided to patients. I understand the challenges presented by the existing environment which is why I’m really proud to be championing the New Hospital Programme and a new hospital in Harlow.

“I am confident that the construction of a new hospital by 2030 will improve how this Trust delivers essential services to its patients and supports the local community.”

YourHarlow was not given an opportunity to speak to the minister.