A&E repair cash branded 'sticking plaster'

A £1m boost to a hospital's emergency department has been branded a "sticking plaster".

The University of Hospital of North Tees in Stockton will receive the cash over two years so its emergency department entrance, reception and waiting area can be refurbished as part of plans to improve patient flow.

But Stockton West Conservative MP Matt Vickers said the hospital required more funding. "North Tees is an ageing, crumbling hospital, and local people have been clear that it requires a significant investment," he said. "Labour still haven't committed a penny towards it."

The government said it was seeking to boost frontline and urgent care capacity in the NHS ahead of the winter.

The hospital has previously been called "not fit for purpose", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A 2021 report previously said its buildings had a 10-year lifespan - endangering patients, staff and the public if not maintained - and would be "beyond their effective use/purpose by 2031".

A £380m bid to replace the hospital was rejected in 2023.

A pledge to build a new hospital was part of Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen's 2024 mayoral campaign.

Stockton North Labour MP Chris McDonald said he acknowledged the hospital required more investment.

He said he had been making that case to government and would continue pushing for it.

Works on the emergency department repairs are expected to begin in the 2027-2028 financial year.

It could involve expanding the waiting area and improving access to drinking water and phone-charging facilities.

Follow BBC Tees on X,Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Tees on BBC Sounds.