A MULTI-million-pound funding package to improve one of the region’s hospitals has been released by the government almost three years after the money was originally secured.

The announcement that the Department of Health is releasing the £4m needed to complete the major redevelopment of Guisborough Hospital has been welcomed by the town’s MP.

Simon Clarke, the MP for South Middlesbrough and East Cleveland, says the release of the money will deliver a boost to medical services in the area.

In December 2016, NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group announced it had secured funding for the revamp of the hospital site but the project was delayed after the funding mechanism for investment schemes was changed by the government.

The MP said: “Guisborough Hospital is at the heart of the town and is much-loved by my constituents. A whole range of important services are provided there, including community dental, orthotics, physiotherapy, X-ray, mental health, sexual health, podiatry and elderly care. People don’t want to have to travel into Middlesbrough for services like these and it’s important they’re available close to home.

“This renovation was promised in 2016 and I’ve been clear from the outset that the Government is fully committed to it. However, as soon as I heard there was a delay releasing the funds, I got in touch with ministerial colleagues at the Department of Health and I’m grateful to them for delivering a positive outcome so quickly. This money will allow the Hospital to be transformed and brought up to date.

“Given that the money to modernise the Hospital was raised by selling the old Chaloner Building on the site, it’s absolutely right that every penny should be re-invested here and this is great news for Guisborough. I’ll now be urging the CCG to get the building work finished as swiftly as possible.”

The Northern Echo:

Councillor Dr Caroline Jackson, who represents Hutton Ward in Guisborough and sits on the South Tees Health Scrutiny Joint Committee, said: “Simon has worked really hard to get the upgrade project at Guisborough Hospital back on schedule and this is brilliant news. He got straight on the case with Ministers and cut through the red tape.”

The South Tees CCG was unable to comment tonight.