Dr Luke Evans, a GP-turned-MP, urged the Prime Minister to support a business case proposal by the local NHS for a £7 million Day Case Unit.
In a question at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, as the first on the schedule, Dr Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, welcomed recent investments to local healthcare infrastructure and continued his call for the proposal of a £7 million Day Case Unit in Hinckley to be given the green light.
In 2018 Hinckley Hospital was given £7 million for improvement works, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic work on the hospital stalled. Earlier this year, local NHS put forward a business case proposal to use the £7 million for a Day Case Unit which enable residents to undergo surgical procedures locally.
Dr Evans used his question to the Prime Minister to thank the Government for recent significant investments in his patch. This includes £14.5 million for a Community Diagnostic Centre at Hinckley Hospital and hundreds of millions in funding for University Hospitals Leicester for two new hospitals, a midwifery-led unit and multi-storey car park.
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, asked “For three years, since I was elected, I have been campaigning to improve health facilities in my community. I am pleased to see significant investment in Leicestershire, with £14 million for a Community Diagnostic Centre in Hinckley and, as part of a £20 billion programme, hospital improvements at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General and Glenfield Hospital.
“But I am looking for a hattrick of health in Hinckley—I am looking for a Day Case Unit. The money is already there but it is tied up in red tape. I have raised this issue with the Health Secretary. Will the Prime Minister look to see what he can do, and would he like to come to open the unit next year in Hinckley?”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak responded “The Member for Bosworth will know that it is for the local health authorities to determine how to allocate the NHS budget in their area, but I have no doubt that he will continue to make the case to them for a Day Case Unit in his community.”
Speaking after his question to the Prime Minister, Dr Luke Evans MP said “I know healthcare services are a priority for people in our community, which is why I’ve been campaigning for infrastructure improvements since I was elected.
“The Day Case Unit would complement the Community Diagnostic Centre at Hinckley Hospital so I’m keen to see it approved and am grateful to the Health Secretary and the Prime Minister for their assurances and support for local healthcare.”
Dr Evans previously called on the Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay, to look on the Day Case Unit proposal kindly. To which Mr Barclay said “I am happy to commit to [Dr Evans] that once the business case is received, we will look at it very keenly.”
