Calls for 'urgent' investment to rebuild hospital

An MP is calling for "urgent" government funding to rebuild Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

The hospital previously missed out on funding, failing its bid to be added to the last government's new hospital programme in 2023.

During a debate in the House of Commons on Thursday, Doncaster Central's Sally Jameson will tell MPs about the issues faced at the site and the repairs needed to make it "fit for the future".

The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.

Hospital officials previously told the BBC that the existing hospital, which was built in the 1930s, with further development in the 1960s and 1980s, had outgrown the site.

It had also fallen into a state of disrepair with a £116m maintenance backlog.

Richard Parker, chief executive at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said £25m was invested annually in maintenance and to keep the site safe and operational.

He said: "While we continue to invest and have a strong track record of delivering improvements, a comprehensive refurbishment is needed to create a modern, safe and sustainable hospital that meets the needs of our patients now and in the future."

Labour MP Ms Jameson said the refurbishment and rebuild plans would require "significant amounts of money".

"It does fall into the hundreds of millions but that doesn't necessarily all have to be done straight away," she said.

"We are entitled to a hospital that is fit for purpose and fit for the future and we see the incredible NHS staff who work there doing a great job in those circumstances and they deserve better as well."

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