Doug Naysmith, MP for Bristol North West which includes a large part of the population of South Gloucestershire, speaking on behalf of the other Labour MPs for the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area – Roger Berry, Jean Corston, Valerie Davey and Dawn Primarolo – welcomed today’s announcement of £310 million investment in the North Bristol Trust.

Doug Naysmith said :

“It means that the request for capital by the Trust has been agreed in full.  Together with projects already approved for the South Bristol Hospital, for the United Bristol Health Services Trust and a new cardiac unit at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, it means a phenomenal £500 millions plus will be invested in the NHS in our area over the next few years.

“The five Labour MPs have worked hard for this outcome – supporting bids for funds by local trusts and lobbying energetically at Westminster and in Whitehall.  If we make the right decisions it looks as if we will be able to solve the persistent problems which have dogged the health community in this area.

“There will be difficult choices to be made, but the result should be one major hospital providing acute services, additional community facilities and significantly enhanced community healthcare facilities at Kingswood, Central and East Bristol and Thornbury and Yate.

“The importance of today’s announcement is that it will ensure improved NHS provision and healthcare for all patients in the South Gloucestershire and North Bristol area – wherever they live.”

Jean Corston added: “This Government will give Bristol what it deserves – hospital services for the 21st century.”