Press Release – Patients in Ashford, Hawkinge, and the Villages to benefit from hospital repairs thanks to Labour Government

Labour has today (30th May 2025) announced that they will deliver vital maintenance in hospitals to help prevent cancelled appointments and operations, with patients in the Ashford Constituency set to benefit from the Government’s Plan for Change.

Across the country, over 400 hospitals, mental health units and ambulance sites will be handed £750million to tackle long-term problems such as leaky pipes, poor ventilation and electrical issues, helping to prevent thousands of cancelled operations and appointments.

Sojan Joseph, the Member of Parliament for Ashford described the funding as ‘vital’ and ‘another step in this Government’s mission to fix the dire state of public service infrastructure we inherited from the Tories.

The projects include much needed works at The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford which will help patients benefit from better services and facilities across the health system. Across the country, fixing the backlog of maintenance at NHS hospitals will help prevent cancellations, with services disrupted over 4,000 times in 2023/24 due to issues with poor quality buildings.

The hospital funding package was confirmed in last year’s Autumn Budget, in which an extra £26billion was secured for the NHS by the Labour Government.

Sojan Joseph Labour MP for Ashford, Hawkinge, and the Villages Quote:

“This is very welcome news for patients at the William Harvey as this Labour Government continues to deliver on our promise to residents in Ashford, Hawkinge the Villages that we will turn the NHS around.

“I know from first-hand experience from working at the hospital just how much the William Harvey will benefit from the new £13,233,000 funding designated to the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust for repairs. Our hospitals are in real need of restoration, so I truly welcome the new investment from the Estates Safety Funding by the Government.

“Step by step, we are not only lifting the NHS off its knees with more appointments and more GPs but helping to make it fit for the future with vital maintenance to help prevent cancelled appointments and operations.

Lots done, and lots more to do.”

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting Quote:

“A decade and a half of underinvestment left hospitals crumbling, with burst pipes flooding emergency departments, faulty electrical systems shutting down operating theatres, and mothers giving birth in outdated facilities that lack basic dignity.

“We are on a mission to rebuild our NHS through investment and modernisation.

“Patients and staff deserve to be in buildings that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose. Through our Plan for Change, we will make our NHS fit for the future.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:
The list of projects can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estates-safety-fund-2025-to-2026