Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was asked about 'major structural deficiencies' at Stepping Hill Hospital, during Prime Minister's questions on 8 May. 

It comes following a report in The Guardian which found ceilings at Stepping Hill had fallen in, meaning patients had to be evacuated and scans cancelled. 

Speaking in Parliament, Stockport MP Navendu Mishra asked Mr Sunak about "major structural deficiencies" in some of the hospital buildings. 

He said that senior officials at Stepping Hill "were clear that a sustained lack of capital investment was the root cause of problems". 

Mr Mishra asked: "Does the Prime Minister believe that our hospitals quite literally crumbling is the price worth paying for 14 years of successive Conservative failure?"

Stockport MP Navendu Mishra (Image - UK Parliament, licensed under CC 3.0)

In response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "We fully recognise the need to invest in health infrastructure across the country, including at Stepping Hill Hospital. 

"That is why we are currently spending around £4 billion a year for trusts to spend on necessary maintenance and repairs, on top of the £20 billion new hospital programme and the additional funding that was put aside to deal with RAAC maintenance."

In April this year, health secretary Victoria Aitkens similarly argued that the government had given grants to integrated care boards this financial year, with a view to encouraging NHS boards to make more investment decisions at a local level. 

However, other politicians have continued to call for repairs funding at Stepping Hill. 

(Image - Stockport NHSFT)

Cllr Tom Morrison, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Cheadle, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The outpatients building closed because it is unsafe, staff are having to put out buckets to catch rain water dripping through the ceilings, and important operations are being delayed because of building works.

"The Conservatives need to stop passing the buck and give Stepping Hill the money it needs to to be repaired and bring it into the 21st century.

"No more excuses, we need action now."

Karen James OBE, chief executive of Stockport NHS Trust, with Paul Athans, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove (Image - Paul Athans)

Speaking more generally on what could be done for the hospital, Paul Athans - Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove - said: "I know the staff here do an outstanding job, and it was wonderful to hear of their recent very positive staff satisfaction survey, achieving the best results in Greater Manchester.

"However, I also understand the concerns over some of the buildings at the hospital and echo the Prime Minister's words, recognising the need for investment in health infrastructure, not just at Stepping Hill, but across the whole country, and welcome the news that the Government is currently spending around £4 billion a year for trusts to spend on necessary repairs.

"Having spoken to hospital users, I know that parking at Stepping Hill is a recurring issue, and I am determined to try and rectify this. If elected I will continue to work with the hospital chief executive, Karen James OBE and neighbouring Cheadle MP, Mary Robinson MP to try and find a solution, such as the building of a multi-storey car park."

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