Health Minister visits KGH and NGH

Health Minister Edward Argar visited Kettering and Northampton general hospitals on February 17 to look at the challenges we face in our current hospital estate.

He was invited to visit our hospitals during a Parliamentary debate earlier this month by Kettering MP Philip Hollobone and Northampton South MP Andrew Lewer.

Both of our local MPs are supporting further investment in our two sites to enable us to better support our patients given our rising local population and demand.

The Minister met members of hospital staff and visited parts of both sites, spending time talking to staff to learn more about the current issues they face, and why more investment in our estate is necessary to improve care and the environment for patients and staff.

At NGH he visited the new Paediatric Emergency Department, Critical Care Unit, Paediatric Wards and Neonatal Unit, and saw first-hand the huge difference more modern building design can offer.

At KGH he visited the HC Pretty wards, and took a tour to learn about the problems with our old energy and heating infrastructure, and the exciting plans for our proposed new Energy Centre as part of our new hospital development – plans for which are well underway and will be an important part of our journey to Net Zero Carbon.

KGH has been working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England and Improvement New Hospital Programme to progress its early enabling works on its rebuild. The priority is to get an Energy Centre business case approved, followed at the appropriate time by a business case for new car parking and roadways.