Eastbourne MP Presses Chancellor Over Hospital Funding Delays

Amid the Government’s Spending Review, Josh Babarinde, Lib Dem MP for Eastbourne, has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to urgently release more funding to address Eastbourne District General Hospital’s maintenance and repairs backlog.

A report by East Sussex NHS Hospitals Trust has said “the age and standard of current hospital buildings presents challenges for the consistent delivery of safe, effective, responsive and efficient care” and Mr Babarinde has been campaigning for a hospital upgrade as a result.

While the Government announced earlier this year that the DGH is to be rebuilt by 2041, the hospital faces a growing £350m repairs bill in the meantime. 

In recent weeks, just £8.5m has been specifically pledged by the Government to contribute to this bill.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Babarinde challenged the Chancellor to fund the 98% unmet cost of the DGH’s maintenance backlog, which is undermining the quality of care and impacting conditions for staff and patients alike.

In response, the Chancellor recognised Mr Babarinde’s concerns, stating that the Treasury had “put aside money in the Spending Review for improvements to hospital conditions in the meantime.”

The Chancellor confirmed that a Health Minister would meet with the Eastbourne MP, where he will pitch for the funding the hospital needs.

In response Mr Babarinde said:

“Staff at the DGH work tirelessly to deliver outstanding care for patients (including me a number of times recently!) yet they are being let down by buildings which are outdated and outgrown.”

“We urgently need interim investment so that more patients can get the care and dignity they deserve, now, and not have to wait until 2041.”