Following the recent announcement this Friday, of the Labour Government's review into the New Hospitals Programme, there is growing concern that plans for the much-needed Milton Keynes Women and Children’s Hospital, lobbied for and secured in principle by former Conservative MPs Ben Everitt and Iain Stewart, are now under threat. Milton Keynes University Hospital too stated that the funding had already been agreed upon, and construction was set to be completed by 2030.
The hospital, which was promised to residents of Milton Keynes, is crucial for the city's future growth and development.
"Like many across Milton Keynes, I am deeply worried that this vital project could be cancelled as part of Labour’s review. This review appears to have been launched quietly and without transparency, which raises concerns that it is simply a way of shutting down a Conservative-led initiative to deliver 40 new hospitals across the country," said Cllr Shazna Muzammil Group Leader of the Conservative Group in Milton Keynes.
The Labour MPs in Milton Keynes, who won seats in the recent general election by promising to deliver this hospital, must now prove to the people of Milton Keynes that they are serious about their commitments. With the Labour Council pushing to nearly double the city’s population, potentially adding nearly half a million new residents, the infrastructure needs will be enormous. The Labour Government’s plans for new towns in and around the M1 and Milton Keynes further increases the need for this to materialise. Milton Keynes, growing at such a rapid pace, requires the essential health services to match.
“We need this hospital now more than ever. The people of Milton Keynes voted for these 3 MPs based on their promises, and now it’s up to them to make sure Labour delivers. The health and wellbeing of our growing population in Milton Keynes depend on it,” Cllr Shazna Muzammil continued.
The question remains whether Milton Keynes' new MPs are committed to fulfilling the promises they made to their constituents. Cllr Shazna Muzammil has called on the newly elected MPs to show they are working in the best interests of Milton Keynes and to ensure this hospital is delivered.
"Labour must make it clear that they are not prepared to sacrifice the future health infrastructure of Milton Keynes for short-term political gain," Cllr Shazna Muzammil concluded.
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