Political column: Mike Reader MP secures new Urgent Treatment Centre for Northampton
Patients in Northampton are set to benefit from faster, more convenient care after Mike Reader MP secured funding for a new urgent treatment centre (UTC) at Northampton General Hospital, which is due to open later this year.
The new UTC will treat minor illnesses and injuries, helping to ease pressure on A&E and ensuring more patients are seen quickly and in the right place. Northampton has been identified as a priority for investment, with targeted support and additional capacity aimed at improving patient flow and reducing long waits in hospital corridors.
Mike Reader MP for Northampton South said: “This is a huge win for Northampton, and proof that we’re finally turning the page on years of neglect. I’ve worked closely with ministers to secure this new Urgent Treatment Centre because people have been telling me since before the General Election that it’s what our town needed. The Tories promised it for 10 years and failed to deliver. We’ve got it done in our first term. Shorter waits, better care, and an end to the indignity of corridor treatment. That’s what this means for people locally.”
Backed by national funding, the new centre will benefit from a £15million cash injection designed to expand frontline services locally, help residents access urgent care without needing to attend A&E, and free up emergency departments for the most serious cases.
This is part of Labour’s wider programme to roll out new and expanded urgent care services across England, alongside specialist support teams working directly with hospitals to tackle delays and improve care.
Lucy Rigby KC, MP for Northampton North said: “I’m so pleased that this Labour Government is delivering a new Urgent Treatment Centre here in Northampton. The Centre will provide a new line of care and help reduce the pressure on A&E departments. This is the change that Labour promised, and now the Government is delivering.”
With shovels in the ground and the site expected to be operational before Christmas this year, it shouldn’t be long before local people start to feel the benefits of these new services.