On 28th October 2024, Rebecca Smith MP tabled her petition to protect Derriford Hospital’s funding. The Chancellor threw the future of Derriford's new Urgent and Emergency Care Facility into doubt with the announcement of the New Hospital Programme Review in July.
Patients across South West Devon and the wider South West have been deeply concerned by this move, writing directly to Rebecca. In response, on 24th September 2024, Rebecca launched a petition calling for the project to be honoured which is approaching one thousand signatures. Rebecca has used this petition to demonstrate the strength of local opinion effectively, receiving widespread local news coverage and applying pressure on the Government to follow through on its commitment to Derriford.
Explaining the reason for the petition, Rebecca stated:
“Yesterday I tabled my petition in Parliament to protect funding for Derriford's new Urgent and Emergency Care Facility ahead of the Budget, supported by almost a thousand concerned local users.
“Labour's manifesto claimed to be ‘committed’ to delivering the New Hospitals Programme which the former Member for Plymouth Moor View helped keep Derriford on when in office. Labour's current local representatives have failed to prevent it from being placed under review. This petition calls on Labour to honour its pledge.”
Reflecting on the Labour Government's Budget on 30th October, Rebecca added:
"Last Monday I tabled my petition to protect funding for Derriford Hospital ahead of the Budget. Just two days later the Chancellor announced an additional £22.6bn NHS spending but made no commitment to Derriford, kicking its new Urgent and Emergency Care Facility into the long grass until at least January.
"In fact, not one mention of the Southwest was made in her Budget, Labour's forgotten region. By ignoring our region and the appeals of hundreds of its residents, the Chancellor risks pushing our hospital to breaking point. If she can sum up the money for a £22.6bn spending spree, it begs the question why she can't honour Labour's pledge to fund Derriford?"
