Leigh Infirmary and Atherleigh Park Hospital set to benefit from major Government investment

For more than 15 years, NHS buildings have suffered from chronic neglect. Emergency departments have been flooded by burst pipes, operating theatres have been shut down due to electrical failures, and maternity wards have lacked the basic facilities needed to provide dignified care. In the last year alone, over 4,000 service disruptions were caused by poor infrastructure. This is completely unacceptable, and fault predominantly lies at the previous government’s underinvestment in public services.

The Labour government is committed to turning this around as part of its broader Plan for Change. Last week, it announced over £750 million investment in more than 400 NHS hospitals, mental health units, and ambulance sites across the country to tackle long-standing maintenance issues.

I am thrilled that as part of these reforms, two sites in my constituency are set to benefit. Leigh Infirmary and Atherleigh Park Hospital will receive £9 million of this funding.

This vital investment will bring tangible benefits to NHS staff and patients in Leigh and Atherton, who will soon benefit from modernised buildings and more efficient services. It will be used to address critical problems such as leaking pipes, poor ventilation, and outdated electrical systems— issues that have led to several cancelled operations and appointments in recent years.

The goal is to modernise healthcare facilities and ensure patients receive the care they need without disruption. Work on these projects is expected to begin this summer, with further improvements scheduled throughout the 2025–2026 financial year.

NHS patients and staff deserve a health system that works for them and hospital buildings that are safe. I have always been a passionate campaigner for greater investment in our local NHS services – from tackling long waits, improving access, and repairing the hospital sites. This investment is another welcome step in this Government’s mission to fix the dire state of public service infrastructure we inherited from the Tories.

Step by step, we are not only lifting the NHS off its knees with more appointments and more GPs but helping to make it fit for the future with vital maintenance to help prevent cancelled appointments and operations. Lots done, and lots more to do.