Plymouth secures funding for new emergency department at Derriford Hospital

The government has officially approved the construction of a new emergency department at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, following years of campaigning by local MPs Fred Thomas and Luke Pollard. The announcement marks a major victory for the city, ensuring much-needed investment in healthcare infrastructure after previous delays and broken promises under the former Conservative government.

Both Plymouth Labour MPs have been vocal advocates for the new emergency department, stressing the hospital's critical role in serving the city and the surrounding region. Concerns over the project’s future arose after the previous government’s New Hospitals Programme, launched in 2020 under Boris Johnson, failed to deliver on its promise of “40 new hospitals”. By the time the Conservatives left office, no new hospitals had been constructed, leaving Derriford's upgrade in limbo.

Fred Thomas MP, elected to represent Plymouth Moor View in 2024, immediately prioritised securing funding for Derriford. His campaign began in his first week as an MP, calling for an “iron-clad commitment” to the project. Luke Pollard MP, representing Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has championed the cause since 2018, regularly visiting Derriford to witness firsthand the challenges faced by staff and patients, including shadowing night shifts and ambulance workers.

Both MPs worked closely with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, advocating for Derriford’s inclusion in the revised hospital programme. Mr. Streeting visited Derriford in December 2024 to meet with NHS staff and patients, prompted by Fred Thomas MP’s invitation to see the hospital’s stretched services in action.

The announcement places Derriford’s new emergency department in the first wave of the government’s revised hospital programme.

Fred Thomas MP said: "Ever since I was elected, I’ve been fighting hard for a new emergency department at Derriford. I know how much people rely on this hospital and how hard the staff work in challenging circumstances. I’m thrilled the government has listened and committed to giving Derriford the new A&E it desperately needs."

Luke Pollard MP welcomed the decision, saying: "This is excellent news for Plymouth. The Conservatives left Derriford’s future up in the air with promises that lacked funding. On behalf of staff and patients, I am delighted that construction can finally move forward."

Health Secretary Wes Streeting outlined the Labour government’s commitment to rebuilding the NHS and criticised the prior administration’s failures: "The New Hospitals Programme we inherited was unfunded and undeliverable. Not a single hospital was built in the past five years, and there was no credible plan to build 40 more. We’ve worked hard to put this programme on a firm footing, and today we’re announcing an honest, funded, and deliverable plan to rebuild our NHS, including a new Emergency Department at Derriford."

The new emergency department is expected to significantly improve patient care and alleviate pressure on staff at Derriford, which serves as a critical healthcare hub for the region. With construction now fully funded, the project represents a long-awaited step toward addressing the challenges faced by Plymouth’s healthcare system.