Chipping Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers, called for action to support Barnet Hospital as we enter the very busy winter period for the NHS, after being drawn in the ballot to ask the Prime Minister a question in Parliament. Following up on concerns raised with her when she visited our local hospital in October, Theresa told MPs that Barnet Hospital staff had told her that they were routinely seeing record numbers of people in A&E.
A full transcript of the question and answer appeared in the Parliamentary Hansard report for that day:
“The Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP
During a recent visit to Barnet Hospital, I was told that A&E there was routinely seeing twice the number of people for which it was designed. Thanks to the hard work of staff and big funding increases, the NHS is seeing more patients and delivering more tests, treatments and operations than at any time in its history, but what are the Government doing to urgently assist the NHS to tackle spiralling demand for healthcare and a tough winter ahead? (904173)
The Prime Minister
I thank my right hon. Friend for what she does to represent her hospital, and I thank the NHS staff for the amazing work that they are doing. We are supporting them, as she knows, by recruiting 50,000 more nurses and putting another £4.5 billion into the NHS over the rest of this financial year. The best thing we can do to protect our NHS over this winter is for everybody to come forward and get their booster vaccination.”
Speaking to reporters after conclusion of Question Time, Theresa said “Protecting the NHS and getting the best services for my constituents will always be one of my highest priorities. I helped secure the expansion of Barnet Hospital A&E several years ago and it is worrying that it is now bursting at the seams.”
“The Conservative Government is delivering the largest ever cash increase in NHS funding and the service is delivering more tests, treatments and operations than ever before. But we need to do all we can to support our local hospital and NHS services as they cope with Covid backlogs and winter pressures. That is why I chose to raise this issue with the Prime Minister today.”
