BOROUGH MPs met with health bosses to discuss services and push for A&E services to return to Solihull Hospital.
Saqib Bhatti, Meriden and Solihull East MP, and Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Solihull West and Shirley MP, met with David Melbourne, chief executive of the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) and spoke about how health services have changed over the years.
In the course of the meeting, Dr Shastri-Hurst and Mr Bhatti cited some of the improvements to the local NHS Trust since 2019 – including a new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), a new elective surgery unit, a new locality hub at Solihull Hospital, and a Community Diagnostic Hub at Chelmsley Wood.
They also spoke about restoring services currently delivered at other University Hospitals Birmingham sites back to Solihull.
The two conservative MPs have launched a campaign calling for the A&E to be reinstated at the Lode Lane hospital.
The pair say the Borough’s rising local population, and ageing society, means it is essential the Government does all it can to ensure Silhillians have access to first-class health services.
Mr Bhatti said: “I continued to push for A&E services at Solihull Hospital. This meeting followed my recent Adjournment debate in the House of Commons supported by neighbouring MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst.
“An aging population, increased demand on other A&E services, in conjunction with having to go to Heartlands Hospital when every minute matters, is clearly not acceptable for residents for Solihull Borough.
“The government is massively increasing the housing burden on Solihull and we were both clear that for all homes that are built the appropriate infrastructure must be built alongside it, and that is why, if these targets do go ahead, we must have A&E services in Solihull Hospital.
“I will not stop in my determination to see A&E services returned to Solihull Hospital and I will continue to press the Government to act.”
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst said: “At the meeting, I shared the experiences of my constituents of the urgent care treatment they have been receiving at Heartlands and Warwick Hospitals.
“I made the case that some services delivered by other University Hospitals Birmingham sites should be restored to Solihull. This would not only take pressure off the other hospitals but also allow residents to be seen closer to home.
“Drawing upon my own clinical experiences, I was able to discuss the wider challenges, including the funding position and need for any front door acute services to be underpinned by the necessary infrastructure to ensure patient safety.
“Going forward, we are committed to work in a collaborative and constructive manner to deliver a substantially improved urgent care service, delivered in Solihull for our residents. In order to do so, we will regularly meet with the ICB and the leadership team at Solihull Hospital.”
