Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt opened a new £40m ‘emergency hub’ at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage today (Friday).
Cabinet Minister Mr Hunt, along with nursing staff, pulled the cord to reveal a plaque at the new ward, which will serve accident and emergency patients from Welwyn Hatfield and other neighbouring areas, as well as Stevenage.
Mr Hunt said: “I’m very proud to be here.
“I know Stephen McPartland, Oliver Heald and Peter Lilley realise the huge step forward this is for their constituents.”
Mr Hunt said the biggest challenge facing the NHS was an ageing population, with one million over-65s in the UK, with that figure set to grow by another million in the next five years.
He thanked staff and volunteers at the hospital at the unveiling, which took place after he took a tour of the site.
• For more on the Health Secretary’s visit buy next week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times, out on Wednesday.
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