Stockport MP Nav Mishra has urged health bosses to ensure people are ‘fully consulted’ over plans for a new state-of-the-art hospital in the town.
Last week Stockport NHS Foundation Trust - which runs Stepping Hill - announced it would be bidding for one of the 40 new hospitals due to be built as part of a £3.7 billion government initiative.
The New Hospitals Programme aims to build the hospitals by 2030 and has already announced 32 projects. It is now looking for a further eight schemes - of which Stockport is hoping to be one.
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The possibility of building a new hospital at the site that incorporates Heaton Lane multi storey car park and the former Debenhams store is currently being explored by the trust and Stockport council.
Bosses say it could ‘radically transform’ healthcare services in Stockport.
But Mr Mishra, who has represented Stockport in Parliament since 2019, has written to both organisations with a ‘detailed list of questions’ and concerns.
The Labour MP says it is important the community has a ‘meaningful say’ in any changes.
He said: “It is vital that everyone in Stockport has access to the highest quality healthcare provision and that the main focus continues to be on reducing unacceptably long waiting times, given figures earlier this year from Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group revealed there were more than 37,000 people waiting for hospital treatment.
“That is the highest level in Greater Manchester and those figures are compounded by the fact that most people have to wait at least 18 weeks for treatment.
“As part of this process, everyone who uses the current Stepping Hill Hospital site must be fully consulted and their concerns taken into consideration. That is why I have written to Stockport NHS Foundation Trust as well as Stockport council to seek clarification.”
Mr Mishra added that any plans for a new site must also factor in the ‘unique architectural heritage and history’ of Stockport and improve on the existing facilities and services.”
While the final design will dictate the cost of the new-build, it is estimated the government would need to invest around £500m in the creation of a new hospital for the people of Stockport and surrounding areas.
Designing and building a new hospital would not be a quick process and could take around years to complete.
The trust intends to continue running some services from Stepping Hill, although it is likely the majority would transfer over to the new site, should it get the go-ahead.
More information about the new hospital plans is on the trusts website - stockport.nhs.uk - where there are also details about how people can ask questions about the proposal and also show their support for a new Stockport hospital.
