A 5,000-strong petition, calling for a new maternity and paediatric unit at Musgrove Park Hospital to be brought forward, was handed into 10 Downing Street today by Taunton and Wellington’s MP, Gideon Amos.
The unit has been included in the government’s funding programme – but isn’t scheduled to happen until 2033.
Mr Amos launched a petition in August and has been campaigning for an earlier start date.
He said: “The Prime Minister should be in no doubt about the urgency of the need for the new maternity unit at Musgrove – the National Maternity Review, no less, called it the ‘most challenging estate’ in the country.
“Andy Burnham said he knew from his visit 20 years ago that it needs renovation.
“He may have promised to come back to me, but he needs to do so with cash in hand.
“The new unit cannot wait until 2033 as currently scheduled and I have today presented over 5,000 reasons why the government need to get on with it”.
Mr Amos challenged Andy Burnham about the scheme last month at his first Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons.
The PM told of his personal experience at Musgrove Park, saying: “I remember well visiting in my Health Minister days.
“I did some work shadowing at the hospital, so I know how much in need it is of renovation. I will look into the issue.
“I think across the NHS this summer, staff have been working in unbearable conditions, same for patients as well.
“I know the Health Secretary has this high on her agenda, and I will come back to the Honourable Gentleman when I’ve had a chance to look at the latest status of that issue.”
The following week, the Prime Minister was challenged again – this time by Liberal Democrats Leader, Sir Ed Davey.
This time, Mr Burnham said: “It points to a systemic challenge facing maternity services across the country, as various reviews have said.
“It is why my Right Honourable friend, the Health Secretary, will next week be chairing a meeting of the maternity task force in the Department of Health, and we will make sure all of the issues being raised, including at the hospitals mentioned, are looked at in detail.”
Mr Amos says he has yet to receive any information from the task force meeting and has written to the Prime Minister this week.