The government has said it 'cannot commit' to funding repairs at Stepping Hill Hospital – despite promising to provide investment just months ago as bosses said the bill had reached £130m.

Department of Health and Social Care officials told the Local Democracy Reporting Service in July that it was aware of the 'state of disrepair' at the Stockport hospital and that it would 'provide the investment and reform needed to get patients the care they deserve'.

The comments came after the borough's three MPs – Lib Dems Tom Morrison, Lisa Smart and Labour's Navendu Mishra – urged the government to take action at the hospital, which has endured major problems across its estate including collapsing ceilings and flooded corridors.

But in a letter sent to Mr Morrison this week, the minister of state for health, Karin Smyth, said funding is not available 'at this stage' due to the state of public finances, which chancellor Rachel Reeves has said amounts to a £22bn black hole.

Ms Smyth's letter added that the government 'will monitor any emerging in-year flexibilities or opportunities' to find funding for the site, and that she will arrange a visit to the hospital.

(Image - Alasdair Perry)

Stepping Hill, which first opened in 1905, employs around 6,000 staff and sees half a million patients each year, and is run by the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. The trust has declined to comment on the latest news.

But the facility has a growing list of repairs, and last week it was announced that the estimated cost of fixing these has increased from £89m in 2021 to more than £130m now.

A recent survey of the hospital found almost 70 per cent of the estate had fallen into conditions which require repair within 12 months to three years, with an official saying that staff are 'simply unable to meet' the amount of work required to keep the facilities at an acceptable state.

Conditions at the hospital have deteriorated to a point where Stockport council has sounded the alarm about the situation.

At a town hall meeting last week, council leader Mark Hunter told councillors that staff at Stepping Hill are 'operating in conditions which frankly have no place in modern society'.

Cheadle MP Tom Morrison said the government's update on the future of Stepping Hill will be 'incredibly frustrating' for the staff and patients at the hospital.

"By refusing the vital funding needed the Labour government will see larger costs in future, and an increase in waiting lists," he added.

"The government needs to get a plan sorted as soon as possible and get our hospital the money it needs to be repaired and put back in working order.

"Local residents will no doubt be bitterly disappointed that the Labour government have u-turned on Stepping Hill funding since they briefed back in July saying that the funding would be delivered."

(Image - Alasdair Perry)

Hazel Grove MP Lisa Smart said: "The state of Stepping Hill hospital is the biggest issue that comes up on the doorstep with residents across Stockport crying out for urgent action.

"This response from the government is hugely disappointing. My constituents deserve world class facilities but instead we're left with a crumbling hospital that is, in part, older than the NHS itself.

"Stepping Hill must get the repairs it needs and plans for a new hospital in the town centre must get support. The government must rethink this poor decision."

While the update on funding has been criticised, the government confirmed that a business case is being prepared this year to mitigate the loss of the Outpatients B building at Stepping Hill, which was forced to close last November due to its deteriorating condition.

The Department of Health and Social Care also highlighted that funding for the future will depend on the outcome of upcoming spending reviews.

A spokesperson said: "We have inherited a broken NHS, with many hospitals like Stepping Hill in a state of disrepair, meaning patients have not been able to access the care they so desperately need.

"Repairing and rebuilding our crumbling hospital estate is a vital part of our ambition to create an NHS that is fit for the future through our 10-Year Health Plan.

"We will provide the investment and reform needed to get patients the care they deserve."

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