Thirteen letters sent to health secretary over hospital but no meaningful reply

THE Tees Valley Mayor has hit out at the health secretary regarding a potential new hospital in Stockton.

- By DANIEL HODGSON

Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen said that he had written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting a total of 13 times since his election, with just one response from the secretary of state's office that did not live up to the mayor's expectations.

The government responded by saying they had inherited a "crumbling" hospital estate, which they described as "not fit for purpose", adding that £30bn is being invested over the next five years in the day-to-day maintenance and repair of the NHS estate.

Mayor Houchen was undertaking his monthly appearance on BBC Radio Tees when a caller asked for an update on the potential new hospital.

He detailed what he sees as the options on the table and set out that, even if the government isn't to fund the hospital, their involvement is needed.

Andy from Ingleby Barwick asked Mayor Houchen about his election pledge to build a new hospital at North Tees and wanted a progress update, describing the existing hospital as "not fit for purpose for the residents in Stockton at the moment".

He said: "I've been recently, all the ceiling tiles are falling in, it's very old and dated, it needs bringing up to date with the new hospital."

Prior to the 2024 general election, the government said that Mayor Houchen did not have the powers to build a new hospital.

Then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak personally told local media that there would not be any money for a new hospital.