A BID for a new hospital has received cross-party support to replace the ageing building, which was built in the 1960s.

For over a decade calls have been made for a replacement to North Tees Hospital in Stockton.

In May, Julie Gillon, chief executive of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS trust told colleagues the building was “not fit for purpose” when it came to infection prevention control.

A debate was held in the House of Commons on Thursday regarding future investment into the hospital.

Read more: North Tees hospital chief says working with ageing hospital 'heart wrenching'

Alex Cunningham MP for Stockton North said: "For eleven years I’ve campaigned on the need for a new hospital for Stockton-on-Tees and the North Tees area. For over a decade I’ve met with the Trust, health professionals and Government Ministers to build the case for new facilities to serve local people and I will continue to lobby for the funding for a new hospital that will play a central role in tackling deep-rooted health inequalities that blight our area.

"I’m also mindful of the need for enhanced facilities on the Hartlepool hospital site which are used by people across the area.

“That there will be almost £6 billion for NHS capital projects is a great opportunity and one we can’t miss. That’s why I’ve written to local MPs that would be served by a new hospital for the North Tees area, asking them to join my campaign and use their influence to deliver the new hospital the people of Stockton-on-Tees and the wider area desperately need.”

Matt Vickers MP for Stockton South said: “After spending much time to secure this debate, I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to make the case for urgent improvements to North Tees Hospital, the hospital that I was born in and that will always be a priority for me.

“It is simply not right that Stockton has the biggest gap in life expectancy in England. This cannot go on and delivering good health services is the key in levelling up people’s life expectancy.

“I was also glad to be given the opportunity to highlight the dodgy Labour-imposed PFI scheme forced on James Cook Hospital which serves many of my constituents. This scheme costs the hospital an eye-watering £1 million every single week.

“Whilst in 2018 the Government committed to no longer use PFI schemes, we need to get rid of the schemes that remain, and I have called upon the Minister to look at what can be done to end Labour’s debt legacy on James Cook Hospital.

“I have urged Ministers to back the bid put forward to transform North Tees into the 21st century hospital that this area is crying out for, and I will not give up until the incredible workforce in that hospital get the modern facilities and resources that they are crying out for.”

Edward Argar, Minister for State of Health and Social Care, said: "The government has made clear its commitment to levelling up across the country. To level up effectively we need to improve health outcomes and we are committed to reducing health disparities between the most and least deprived areas.

"We aim to make and announce a final decision on the next eight hospitals in the Spring of 2022."

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