Dr Neil Hudson, Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, has again pressed the Government on long-delayed hospital rebuilds, challenging the Health Secretary during Oral Parliamentary Questions in the House of Commons.
Raising serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of both Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, Dr Hudson highlighted the escalating maintenance costs required simply to keep the buildings safe and functional while residents in Epping Forest and beyond continue to wait for full redevelopment. Whipps Cross alone faces an estimated £170 million maintenance backlog.
Both hospitals are currently designated as Phase 2 projects in the Government’s New Hospital Programme, with construction not expected to begin until 2032–2034. However, Whipps Cross has already completed part of its redevelopment, opening a new multi-storey car park in November 2025. Meanwhile, Princess Alexandra Hospital is under growing pressure as East Herts Council has granted planning permission for 10,000 new homes as part of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town development.
In the Chamber, Dr Hudson asked the Minister:
“As my constituency neighbour, the Health Secretary will know that both his constituents and mine rely heavily on the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow and Whipps Cross in Leytonstone. Before the election, he promised the rebuild of the Princess Alexandra hospital, and he supported the ‘Whipps Won’t Wait’ campaign, yet under Labour it appears that both Princess Alexandra and Whipps must wait.”
“Whipps Cross now faces an estimated £170 million in backlog maintenance, one of the highest figures in the country. Does the Health Secretary agree with me that rising maintenance costs must be taken into account when prioritising the new hospital programme?”
Commenting afterwards, Dr Hudson said:
“It is unacceptable that the hospital rebuilds promised before the election by the now Health Secretary, and that my constituents urgently need, are being significantly delayed, particularly when the cost of maintaining these outdated buildings continues to soar.”
“I am once again urging the Health Secretary to rethink the current approach and urgently prioritise these hospitals.”
Dr Hudson has consistently campaigned for urgent progress on both rebuilds, repeatedly raising the issue in Parliament and directly with Ministers. To read more about his work, please see:
https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/epping-forest-mp-demands-urgent-action-delayed-hospital-rebuilds
