There is more to be done for the NHS - but I am proud of the start we have made

WE all know that the East Kent Hospitals estate was neglected for 14 years.

- Tony Vaughan

Austerity left a permanent scar on our NHS, both locally and nationally. As a Labour Government, we are starting to rebuild our hospitals.

For several months I had been pressing the Department for Health and Social Care for funding for urgent hospital repairs in East Kent. I am pleased to say that, two weeks ago, the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, announced over £13 million for vital repairs to the East Kent Hospitals estate.

The money will be used to repair the hospital roofs and buildings, and to maintain the utility systems.

This kind of basic maintenance ought to have been done long ago; it is not glamorous, but our hospitals cannot continue to function without it.

The NHS was a big winner in the Spending Review.