Questioning the Prime Minister About the Crumbling State of Stepping Hill Hospital

The crumbling state of Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport has again made headlines in recent weeks. On 3rd May, The Guardian reported on the partial collapse of ceilings in “two key units of a decrepit NHS hospital”, forcing it to evacuate patients and cancel X-rays and scans. This follows previous reporting on the closure of Stepping Hill’s Outpatient B Department due to "significant deterioration of the structure of the building" in November 2023 by the BBC. 

I raised the unacceptable condition of the Stepping Hill estate with the Prime Minister during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 8th May. I felt that it was imperative to raise the issues at Stepping Hill with the Prime Minister directly – to demand that he acknowledge the damaging consequences of his government’s neglect of our NHS, endangering both patients and hardworking NHS staff in our community. You can read a transcript of my question, and the PM’s unfortunately inadequate response, here. 

As I highlighted in my question, I have met with senior NHS officials to discuss the problems at Stepping Hill. They have been clear that a sustained lack of capital investment is the root cause of the hospital’s physical decline, culminating in the shocking scenes that we saw in March.  

The condition of Stepping Hill is an indictment of the Conservative Government's neglect of our NHS. With the hospital's ceilings falling in, wards closing, treatments being cancelled, and patients being evacuated, we are seeing the true impact of fourteen years of Conservative rule on our health service, which is now quite literally collapsing around us.  

My question to the Prime Minister was not the first time I have highlighted the decrepit state of Stepping Hill, and the urgent need for more investment, in the House of Commons. Unfortunately, for as long as the current Conservative government is in place, I fear that it will not be the last.  

I have been demanding funding to improve conditions at the hospital for several years, including in Department of Health & Social Care Questions on 23rd April. You can watch a clip of this question below or read a transcript here. 

I have also submitted numerous Written Parliamentary Questions to hold the Government to account about Stepping Hill’s deterioration. These include a question to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care requesting that the Government allocates “capital funds to carry out urgent estates repairs”, and another asking them to share their assessment of the impact of the hospital’s state of disrepair on local capacity. The Government’s response - that no such assessment has been made – is alarmingly inadequate. My constituents deserve much better.  

The ongoing problems at Stepping Hill are causing major disruption and distress for both patients and NHS staff in Stockport, who I am very grateful to for working so hard in the face of such difficult circumstances. My constituents are being denied access to the high-quality healthcare facilities that we should all be entitled to. For as long as this is the case, I will continue campaigning for the Government to cease its disgraceful neglect of our local NHS services, including Stepping Hill, and provide the investment that is so urgently required.  

If you live in Stockport constituency and would like to contact me about your experience at Stepping Hill, or any other matter, please send me an email at navendu.mishra.mp@parliament.uk.