Daniel Kawczynski Conservative, Shrewsbury and Atcham
In 2016 we secured more than £300 million for the modernisation of accident and emergency services in Shropshire, but six years on, the money has still not been spent and construction has not started. The fact that this decision has not been taken leads me to feel real concern about the quality of managers in our local NHS trust. What can my right hon. Friend do to help us in Shropshire to ensure that, finally, this £312 million is spent and A&E services are modernised? There is nothing more important than the safety of constituents who go into A&E units.
Oliver Dowden Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office, Deputy Prime MinisterI pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising this issue. I know that his constituents are anxious for the building work to get under way as soon as possible, but I also know that the Department of Health and Social Care is working closely with NHS England and the trust to support the development of the scheme. The trust is due to submit plans to the Department in the coming months, and the Department will work apace to review those plans.
