June 2018
- I launched my campaign to fight for a new A&E building at Walsall Manor Hospital with a petition. Since getting elected in 2017, I had seen first-hand that the existing building was too small and not fit for purpose. We desperately needed a bigger and more modern building to provide residents of Bloxwich, Willenhall and Walsall North better care and a better experience.
July 2018
- I met with Secretary of State for Health to raise my concerns about the existing A&E building and the issues being faced by patients and residents in Walsall North, as a result.
August 2018
- I continued to make private representations to Ministers whilst in parliament, reiterating the need for a new A&E building and the benefits including lower waiting times, better experience for patients, better care and a better working environment for staff.
September 2018
- I raised a question to Prime Minister Theresa May at PMQs asking for her support and the support of the Health Secretary of my campaign for a new A&E.
October 2018
- On BBC Sunday Politics I highlighted that the government was investing money into the Manor Hospotal to improve the patient experience but needed to do more to support Walsall North residents by providing funding for a new and improved A&E.
November 2018
- I met with the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, to push for the £36m rebuild of the A&E department at Walsall Manor Hospital. I stressed that the current building was not fit for purpose and that the new building would significantly reduce waiting times by increasing its capacity., providing better care for the people of Walsall.
November 2018
- After some lobbying, the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, joined the fight for a new A&E building by backing my campaign. Andy wrote to the Secretary of State for Health, to help push for funding and emphasise the need for a new building.
December 2018
- Following a hard fought campaign, I was delighted that the Conservative Government awarded £36m for a new A&E at Walsall Manor Hospital, with Walsall firmly put back on the map in Westminster.
March 2019
- After the success of securing funding I met with the Chief Executive of Walsall Manor Hospital who confirmed they were in the process of appointing contractors.
September 2019
- The contractor appointed for the build was announced and with construction set to begin the following year..
August 2019
- I met with the Clinical Director of Emergency Services who explained the existing challenges faced by excellent staff and we discussed ways in which the new building would improve conditions for patients and staff. I had a full tour of the existing facilities and met with other clinical staff who shared their enthusiasm for the new build.
January 2020
- I met with the Chief Executive of the Manor who shared that Walsall Manor Hospital was one of the top three A&E departments in the region due to the hard work of A + E staff. The Chief Executive highlighted that the experience for patients would be further improved by the fantastic facilities of the new A&E building.
July 2020
- Walsall Council approved the planning application to start building the new A&E. Plans were laid out for a two-storey healthcare building and full refurbishment of existing A&E facility, which would create over 120 new jobs at the hospital.
November 2020
- Healthwatch Walsall held their first Friday Focus to talk with local residents about the new A&E and what it will mean for us in Bloxwich, Willenhall and Walsall North.
December 2020
- I visited the A+E site before the construction started, to see the beginning of a 22-week programme of enabling works to grout and stabilise former mine shafts. Other work includes changing the road layout on site and installing additional drainage.
June 2021
- I visited the A&E construction site to see that the steel frame of the building had gone up and that the main building works had begun!
June 2021
- I met with Chief Executive of the manor to visit the site and discuss the Acute Medical Unit which will be contained in the building. The A&E development will also include an urgent treatment centre, paediatric assessment unit and digital x-ray rooms.
February 2022
- I visited the site to track progress of construction. Using innovative VR technology, I was able to visualise what the completed development would look like. The completed A&E site will incorporate new state-of-the-art cameras so medical students can learn from live assessments.
July 2022
- Recruitment started for the new A&E with £1.2m being invested into new ambulatory staff who will work on the state-of-the-art Acute Medical Unit.
July 2022
- I visited the site to see progress. The building was on track to be completed by October 2022 with staff ready to move in in November 2022. Walsall Manor Hospital was now the best performing hospital in the West Midlands for ambulance turnaround time and had had the largest permanent staffing influx on record within the last 6 months.
August 2022
- I visited the site with local residents and Healthwatch Walsall. We had an engagement session on the layout and use of the new A&E building as well a tour of the site to check in on progress first hand!
December 2022
- I visited the site to check on progress and caught up with the Chief Executive and other senior staff. Staff are excited to move in to the new sire and final preparations are being made!
February 2023
- I popped by the new A&E at Walsall Manor to check on the site. The new sign is up and the team are adding the finishing touches ready for completion very soon!
March 2023
- The new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at Walsall Manor Hospital is now open! I look forward to the "official" opening later this year.
June 2023
- I attended the official opening of the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at Walsall Manor Hospital, Congratulations to all staff and everyone involved in making this project a huge success!
