News Release

7th May 2002

NEW LICHFIELD HOSPITAL - FUNDING NOT YET SECURED

Following his meeting with the Burntwood, Lichfield, and Tamworth Primary Care Trust on Friday (see News Release dated 3rd May 2002), Michael Fabricant asked Hazel Blears - a junior Health Minister - in the House of Commons Chamber today whether the Government would provide the £3 million shortfall in funding needed for construction of the £11.8 million proposed new hospital in Lichfield. Michael Fabricant now says "Both the Trust and I are keen that capital funding is made available and the hospital is not paid for on the 'never never': by the Private Finance Initiative which will reduce the money available for the running of the hospital."

The Minister could not confirm how the new hospital will be funded. "I hope the Government will make the funding position clear before the PCT Board Meeting on May 15th when the Board is expected to recommend in principle the construction of the new hospital", adds Michael Fabricant.

In answering the question, Ms Blears listed the facilities that will be available in the new hospital saying all was being provided by a Labour Government. She failed to mention that the list of facilities is less than the services currently available in Lichfield and did not address the total closure of the hospital in Burntwood.

(She also misquoted a passage contained in this very website and this will be subject to a procedural motion in the Chamber tomorrow or Thursday).