Northampton MP asks Commons for £6.5million to revamp NGH's children's A&E department

Andrew Lewer stood at Parliament this week at a debate over the Government's upcoming NHS funding bill to say Northampton's paediatric emergency unit was "in desperate need of updating."

The debate was to discuss how the Government should spend some £33.9billion promised for the NHS.

Northampton General Hospital's chief executive has since agreed with the call and says the children's department is facing "rising demand".

Mr Lewer told the House of Commons: "I am fortunate in having been able to go on numerous visits to Northampton General Hospital in my constituency.

"There is one thing I would like to see a commitment to, or have further discussions with Ministers about, and that is the £6.5 million funding for a new children’s A&E facility in Northampton General Hospital.

"I have seen at first hand the brilliant work carried out by the staff there, but some of the facilities are in desperate need of updating, and this is something I am keen to help deliver."

Northampton General Hospital claims the number of children needing emergency care jumped 23,913 in 2016 to 26,121 in 2018. Figures are expected to top 25,000 for 2019-2020.

Chief executive Sonia Stewart says the paediatric ED unit often comes under pressure because it is close to the adult's A&E and said funding would help them build a separate, dedicated facility.

She said: "We’re seeing more and more children attending our paediatric emergency area and there is no indication that this likely to reduce.

"The lack of space is a issue that has been raised by our staff, by the parents of the children we treat and the CQC.

"We’re looking at ways of working differently with our community providers, but it is still likely that we will need a significant facility on site.... Our plans to build a dedicated facility are supported by local MPs and the Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership.’

Andrew Lewer also used his speech to say the £33.9b could be used to alleviate Northamptonshire's adult social care costs, which he said had a "large part to play" in the authority going effectively bankrupt in the 2018.