Streeting to meet mayor over new hospital plans
BBCHeath Secretary Wes Streeting has agreed to meet Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen over plans to replace a crumbling hospital.
The Conservative mayor previously said he had tried to contact the health secretary "13 times" to discuss plans for a new hospital in Stockton.
Streeting acknowledged the issues with the current North Tees building during an interview with BBC Radio Tees and praised staff for working in an environment "that is not easy".
Reacting to the news that Streeting was willing to hold a meeting, Houchen said: "I've written to the health secretary to get a meeting in the diary."
Streeting told BBC Radio Tees during a round of interviews with local stations earlier: "I know there are real challenges there, I have been there with [Middlesbrough and Thornaby East MP] Andy McDonald to look at the state of the estate in particular."
He said the government was putting extra capital funding into the NHS which he hoped would help ease the situation.
Houchen said he was pleased Streeting had recognised the challenges at North Tees Hospital, which is "no longer fit for purpose".
"The work our NHS does is crucial, and that's why I promised to do all I can to build a new state-of-the-art hospital to replace North Tees and deliver better services, faster care and facilities that our incredible NHS staff deserve to work in," he said.
"I've written to the health secretary to get a meeting in the diary and hope to get a plan moving forward as soon as possible."
