Significant recent investment at Rugby’s local Hospital of St Cross was the topic of discussion when Health Secretary Steve Barclay visited last week.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was joined by local MP Mark Pawsey, the Chief Executive of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust Professor Andy Hardy, and staff from St Cross to see the brand-new, purpose-built Endoscopy Unit. The facility will enable up to 50 patients to be seen every day and represents a £34 million national investment into diagnostic services. This will improve early diagnosis of a wide range of conditions and enable more Rugby residents to access the treatment they need at an early stage – vital for delivering healthier outcomes.
The Health Secretary also met with surgeons and consultants at the new theatres in St Cross, where cutting-edge robotic technology has been introduced to improve orthopaedic treatments including knee and hip replacement. Professor Richard King demonstrated how the use of this technology should enable joint replacement surgery to be carried out more accurately and safely, leading to better recovery times for patients and a lower risk of complications.
Mark & Mr Barclay also visited the Urgent Treatment Centre at the Hospital of St Cross. Mark and Cllr Yousef Dahmash referred to their recent survey showing an overwhelming desire by Rugby residents for more extensive urgent treatment services at St Cross. The objective is for more patients to be treated locally and relieve pressure on the provision available at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire’s A&E department in Coventry.
Speaking after the Secretary of State’s visit, Mark Pawsey MP commented:
“Access to good local healthcare is one of the most important issues to families here in Rugby and so I was very pleased that the Health Secretary was able to come and see the great investment taking place in our Hospital of St Cross. The new endoscopy unit will enable more of my constituents to get a timely diagnosis locally – and we know that early identification of conditions such as cancer is one of the best ways to improve outcomes.”
Mark continued:
“I remain committed to campaigning for an enhanced provision for urgent and emergency care in Rugby. Following the recent visit of Health Minister Will Quince MP, it was good to be able to be speak with the Health Secretary and Professor Hardy about the importance of securing doctor-led urgent care services in Rugby as our town has grown. I am encouraged by the recognition from UHCW NHS Trust that more services can be offered at Rugby, as the recent investment has demonstrated, and I will continue to work to deliver even more investment at St Cross.”