A £59 million debt write-off for Southend Hospital has been welcomed by James Duddridge MP.
Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will have the debt written off as part of the Government's announcement to scrap £13.4bn of NHS debt across England.
The move will rid more than a hundred NHS hospitals of historic debt, freeing them up to invest in maintaining vital services and longer-term infrastructure improvements.
The announcement also comes alongside a new NHS funding model to make sure the NHS has the necessary funding and support to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
The changes will provide much needed financial support during this unprecedented viral pandemic, as well as laying secure foundations for the longer-term commitments set out last year to support the NHS to become more financially sustainable.
Commenting, James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East said:
“This £59 million debt-write off puts local health services in a stronger position not only to fight coronavirus in the short term, but also provides a stable footing to invest in maintaining vital services and longer-term infrastructure improvements too.
“The Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to tackle coronavirus, and this announcement will give the NHS the financial certainty it needs to respond to the pandemic and help save lives.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“As we tackle this crisis, nobody in our health service should be distracted by their hospital’s past finances.
“This £13.4 billion debt write off will wipe the slate clean and allow NHS hospitals to plan for the future and invest in vital services.
“I remain committed to providing the NHS with whatever it needs to tackle coronavirus, and the changes to the funding model will give the NHS immediate financial certainty to plan and deliver their emergency response.”
