Cherilyn Mackrory MP for Truro and Falmouth today attended a roundtable meeting hosted by Lord Markham CBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care, at the Royal Cornwall Hospital to discuss the New Hospital Programme and the new Women and Children’s Hospital being built in Truro.
This meeting was also attended by Derek Thomas MP, and Cornwall Council representatives including Cllr Linda Taylor.
Lord Markham spoke to stakeholders and hospital leaders to discuss the progression of the new Women and Children’s Hospital, its objectives, and the successes which have already been achieved during this project.
The goal of the new Women and Children’s Hospital is to ensure modern, integrated care services for women and children here in Cornwall by incorporating existing medical services such as neonatal care into one space at the centre of the Royal Cornwall Hospital. This means that all care will be provided by a specialist team with direct access to equipment and responses, which is better for patient care but also for providing training and support for medical staff.
The new hospital represents a great opportunity for recruitment and retention of medical staff. Currently the Royal Cornwall Hospital has no midwife vacancies, and a waiting list for new starters. The new Women and Children’s Hospital will allow this team to expand, and the hospital will work closely with the community, including Truro College, to recruit. A priority for this project is retention. The Royal Cornwall Hospital is committed to provide training for local people such as through apprenticeship programmes and support. By encouraging and supporting local people to undertake these essential vocational roles, the hospital can build its own team drawn from right here in the community.
The New Hospital Programme seeks to give communities the support they need to build and to deliver the best possible care for local people. This roundtable represents a significant step on the journey the Royal Cornwall Hospital is undertaking towards achieving this goal.
Cherilyn said:
“This fantastic meeting set the bar for progress. Since last year the new Women and Children’s Hospital has grown into a brilliant project which will deliver first rate care to people across our community.
“As Chair for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Baby Loss, and co-chair the Women’s Health APPG, I know how difficult it is to train and retain staff, and all whilst ensuring patient safety. The work which has been done towards this hospital is extraordinary. It is on track to deliver first-rate care for women and children in Cornwall and is an example of what can be achieved when we prioritise training, care, and the needs of our community.”