An MP from Buckinghamshire has asked the prime minister to support plans to replace and repair Wycombe Hospital as it approaches its 'end of life'.

During Prime Minister Questions in the House of Commons today (June 28), Conservative MP for Buckingham Greg Smith asked Rishi Sunak if he would support the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) in their plans to address building safety issues at Wycombe Hospital.

He said: “My constituents rely on many nearby hospitals, Milton Keynes where this government has committed to a new women and children’s hospital, Stoke Mandeville who have just completed the build of a new children’s A&E.

“But also, Wycombe, where infrastructure and maintenance issues in the aging tower is precenting around 2,000 operations a year from going ahead.

“My local trust has a plan for a £200 million new clinical centre at Wycombe Hospital. Will the prime minister work with myself and Buckinghamshire colleagues to make that a reality?”

The prime minister responded that the government were no longer inviting further schemes to join the new NHS investment programme.

Adding: "In the future, new schemes will be considered through the rolling programme of capital investment in hospital infrastructure, which will secure the building of new hospitals beyond 2030 and mean future investment to upgrate the NHS estate across the country.

"Future plans for that will obviously be set out in spending reviews and fiscal events."

The Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust previously expressed disappointment at Wycombe Hospital not being included in the government’s announcement of NHS building projects.

The trust said the hospital is in urgent need of repairs of up to £2 million alongside critical infrastructure totalling £80 million requiring immediate attention.

Without additional funding, it is unable to carry out repair and maintenance works or build a £200 million care centre on the site to meet the healthcare demands of the 20th century.

Neil Macdonald, chief executive of the BHT, said the hospital is “approaching its end of life and is in dire need of replacement” and called the lack of available government funding “really disappointing”.

He added that the hospital needs investment in a modern healthcare facility to provide an improved patient experience rather than a series of episodic repairs.

The trust hopes to be successful in obtaining future government investment but may have to seek alternative means of funding for the necessary works.