Hull MPs back Government intervention in Hull NHS Trust

Hull’s Labour MPs have welcomed the decision by the Health Secretary Wes Streeting to include Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the Government’s NHS Intensive Recovery programme.

In a joint statement, Diana Johnson MP, Emma Hardy MP and Karl Turner MP said: “Following Hull MPs’ discussions with Health Ministers, it’s welcome that decisive action is being taken by the Secretary of State for Health to make Hull part of the NHS Intensive Recovery programme from April.

“With Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust at the bottom of the national performance league table of 134 NHS Trusts, today’s news cannot come soon enough.  Wes Streeting is right to say that failure has been tolerated for too long. This is especially so when there are concerns about patient safety.

“The Labour Government is investing £29bn extra into NHS services across the country and Hull residents should share in the improvements that we see being made nationally. Although it’s true that Hull NHS Trust has had many challenges and pressures, these are not unique to Hull. They are no reason for low standards to go unchallenged.

“The many hardworking frontline NHS staff that we have in Hull should feel that they are being supported in their work and we have been very concerned to hear about a bullying culture in the Trust.

“It’s clear that just spending more is not enough where there have clearly been deep-seated deficiencies and instability in the Trust leadership in Hull.

“That’s why we agree with the Health Secretary that investment must go alongside other changes, including where necessary in leadership, in order to get the higher standards in healthcare that we all want to see in our City. Our constituents deserve no less.”

Hull MPs have raised their concerns directly with the Health Secretary Wes Streeting and with the Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth MP. Diana Johnson MP has also met with Trust Chief Executive Lyn Simpson and with UNISON representatives who work in frontline roles in the NHS in Hull.