Clive Jones, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Wokingham, has written an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Victoria Atkins, asking her to come and see for herself the terrible conditions some of the staff and patients are forced to endure at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
He said that hospital managers, doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and
maintenance workers do a wonderful job at the Royal Berks, but they are being
badly let down by the government.
On a recent visit to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, he was shown the Berkshire Cancer Centre in the north block of the hospital.
He was appalled at some of the facilities such as the chemotherapy ward which dates back to 1911 and lacks air conditioning, increasing the risk of infection for vulnerable patients.
The admin staff are crammed into a room at the top of the building where seven of them have to share a tiny space, with minimal sanitary facilities.
Following his visit, Clive wrote an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health,
Rt Hon Victoria Atkins, asking her to visit the hospital as soon as possible and to see for
herself what the conditions in the north block are like.
Clive said: “We saw some parts of the old hospital in the iconic London Road buildings known as north block.
“Quite frankly, the conditions that staff members have to work in are unacceptable and something must be done.
“This part of the hospital is more than 100 years old, and some parts even date back to 1839.
“We were promised a new hospital back in 2019. Originally work was meant to
commence in 2024 and complete in 2030.
“This isn’t going to happen. The government is dragging their feet.
“Meanwhile, healthcare workers have to work in Dickensian conditions. This must not
continue whilst we wait for the government to make up their mind about what it
wants to do.
“I have written to the Secretary of State for Health asking her to visit the hospital as soon as possible and to see for herself what the conditions in the north block are like.
“Our healthcare professionals and do a wonderful job at the Royal Berks, but they are being
badly let down by the government.”
