At the 2019 General Election, I campaigned with a pledge to secure further investment in our local NHS including for improvements to the James Paget Hospital. Today, the Conservative Government has announced a funding package that goes much further than an upgrade of the hospital. This announcement confirms that the funding will provide a replacement for the whole hospital. This is yet another example of how the Great Yarmouth constituency benefits from a Member of Parliament who is at the heart of this government. 

A new James Paget Hospital will ensure local residents have a fully modern, accessible hospital fit for the 21st century, whilst continuing to provide the excellent service they have come to expect from the James Paget. The hospital has a long history of serving Great Yarmouth residents and this investment will ensure that it will be able to continue its excellent work for many years to come.

Despite Labour's scaremongering at the last election, this proves the Conservatives are delivering on their promises to deliver on the people’s priorities, such as the NHS. The Prime Minister has confirmed, for the first time, 40 hospitals that will be built by 2030 as part of a package worth £3.7 billion. Full details of the precise funding allocated  so far to each project will be announced at the next Spending Review.

The Conservative Government has made investing in the NHS a key part of its plans to build back better after coronavirus. It has already:

• Delivered the biggest cash boost in history for the NHS, totalling an additional £33.9 billion for the NHS every year by 2023-24.
• Announced £1.5 billion this year for hospital maintenance, including funding to expand A&E capacity.
• Started work to deliver 50,000 more nurses, another key election pledge, with more than 14,000 more nurses already working in the NHS compared to last year.
• Providing £850 million to upgrade facilities and equipment at 20 hospitals.

I was proud to be elected at last year’s election to deliver on the people’s priorities, such as investing in the NHS. I am thrilled that a new James Paget Hospital will be built – showing that, despite a challenging year, this is a Government which won’t be blown off course and will deliver on its promises to the British people. We have a huge opportunity now to unite and level up, delivering lasting change, and build back better after coronavirus.