Lib Dems - Investment Needed to Give Local Residents the Bedford Hospital they Deserve

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have again insisted that the Government must provide the investment Bedford Hospital needs for better facilities and operating theatres, following confirmation that none of the recently announced £99m for the Bedford/Luton & Duntable Hospitals merger is to be spent on Bedford Hospital.

The news that the £99m capital investment announced by Government was entirely for the Luton & Dunstable site was revealed via questioning of the Bedford Hospital Chief Executive by Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Health Committee Spokesperson Cllr Dean Crofts.

Commenting, Cllr Crofts said: "We need to remain cautious and make sure that A&E , maternity services and paediatric services remain in Bedford Hospital now and well into the future. We have had a verbal guarantee that this will be the case but must remain vigilant that the merged hospital does not go back on their word. It is disappointing that none of the £99m capital funding for the hospital merger is going to be spent on Bedford Hospital."

"Bedford will have to submit an application for more capital funding from the government and / or raise the monies required to improve facilities elsewhere. Bedford Hospital is in need of capital expenditure to improve facilities and operational theatres and the government must fund these projects so that local Bedford Borough residents get the NHS they deserve."

Commenting on the news of the absence of any new capital investment from government in Bedford Hospital, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "I am grateful to Councillor Dean Crofts for exposing the fact that Bedford Hospital will not receive any of the £99m capital funding."

"It is disgraceful that once again the government is failing to support Bedford Hospital. It is left to local campaigners to stand up for the hospital, and we will continue to do so."