Health Minister Ed Argar visits Whipps Cross Hospital to mark the NHS 73rd Birthday
The Minister of State for Health, Ed Argar, visited the Whipps Cross site on Monday 5th July to mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS and to tour the demolition site for the new hospital at Whipps Cross.
He met with Dame Alwen Williams, Group CEO of Barts Health NHS Trusts, along with others in the team, to discuss the hospitals response to Covid-19 pressures, as well as the exciting plans for the redevelopment of Whipps Cross Hospital.
The Minister then met with members of staff to cut a birthday cake and thank them for their dedication during the pandemic. He reiterated his support to build a brand new state of the art hospital at Whipps Cross, as part of the government’s commitment to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030 backed by an initial £3.7 billion.
Afterwards there was a tour of the demolition site, where work has already begun to demolish the disused nurses’ accommodation to make way for the new hospital to be built there. The minister was joined on the tour by his colleagues from the New Hospital Programme as well members of the hospitals senior leadership team and the Whipps Cross Redevelopment team.
Health Minister Ed Argar said:
“On 5 July we celebrated the 73rd birthday of the NHS, and I know everyone joins me in thanking our brilliant NHS workforce for tirelessly providing world-class healthcare in the midst of a global pandemic, but also every day for the past 73 years.
“My top priority is ensuring the NHS is fit for the future, so it was a pleasure to visit Whipps Cross hospital in London to meet staff and hear about their plans to be part of the biggest hospital building programme in a generation.
“We are supporting NHS Trusts up and down the country to build back better so the NHS remains one of the nation's greatest treasures for future generations to come.”
Dame Alwen Williams, Group CEO, Barts Health NHS said:
“We were very pleased to welcome the Minister to Whipps Cross to share with him the progress of the redevelopment programme and to send thanks to all staff at Whipps Cross hospital for their dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
To find out more about the Whipps Cross Hospital redevelopment visit bartshealth.nhs.uk/future-whipps
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