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Keighley MP meets health minister over Airedale Hospital rebuild

Robbie Moore MP has held a trio of meetings with senior figures nationally and locally as part of his campaigning for a full rebuild of Airedale Hospital.

The Keighley and Ilkley MP has met the Health Secretary Steve Barclay as well as the Minister responsible for the government's new hospital programme, Lord Markham.

Mr Moore also sat down with the Chief Executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Foluke Ajayi last week.

He says he has urged the government to provide the "necessary funds for a full rebuild" of Airedale and outlined to the ministers the "overwhelming" support from local people.

Robbie Moore MP said: “Since I started my campaign for a full rebuild of Airedale Hospital, I have held a personal debate in Parliament for a rebuild, used two Prime Minister’s Questions on the issue, attended numerous on-site visits and meetings with the Airedale NHS Hospital Trust and worked closely with the Trust to develop the plans for a new Hospital. Last year I also attended a meeting at 10 Downing Street where I presented the PM with a piece of aerated concrete to highlight its structural deficiencies.

"Now more than ever we need a new Airedale Hospital and over recent weeks I have been stepping up my campaign even further, holding three high level one-on-one meetings with top healthcare leaders to discuss the urgent need for a new Airedale Hospital. This included meetings with our Secretary of State for Health, Steven Barclay, the Minister for the new hospital programme, Lord Markham and Foluke Ajayi, chief executive of Airedale NHS foundation Trust.

"I made it clear to the government that sticking plaster solutions are unacceptable, and that Keighley deserves the necessary government funding and support for this vital facility and its dedicated staff.”

Plans for Europe's first carbon-neutral hospital to be built at the site in Steeton were submitted to government in September 2021. At the time a decision was expected in Spring 2022, but ministers have yet to announce which hospitals will be rebuilt.

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