Declan CareyLocal Democracy Reporting Service
Conditions at Stepping Hill Hospital are forcing staff to care for patients in “buildings that are literally crumbling around them”, it has been claimed.
Cheadle’s Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison said there was a “desperate need” for new investment in the Stockport hospital, which first opened in 1905 and sees about 500,000 patients a year.
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust bosses warned in 2024 that repair costs had spiralled to more than £130m as the “aged and deteriorating” buildings continued to cause alarm.
The trust has been approached for comment.
A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said: “This government inherited a broken NHS, with the hospital estate left to crumble.
“We are providing Stepping Hill Hospital with over £2.5m this year for targeted essential safety works, including fire safety improvements.
“In addition, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has been allocated over £75m over the next four years which can be used to improve conditions at Stepping Hill.
“We’re investing £30bn nationally over five years for maintenance and repairs and we will provide the investment and reform needed to get patients the care they deserve, in hospital buildings fit for purpose.”
Ceiling leaking water
Stockport Council is due to debate a motion about the state of the hospital on Thursday, with councillors facing calls to “urgently fund repairs”, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison, a former councillor in Stockport, said: “Our NHS staff at Stepping Hill have been working miracles in buildings that are literally crumbling around them.
“I’ve spoken to nurses who’ve had to move patients because of water coming through the ceiling.
“It’s simply not good enough – not for our staff who give everything every single day and certainly not for our residents who deserve so much better.
“While 40 hospitals across the country were chosen for restoration funding, Stepping Hill was left out.”
Thursday’s council motion claims Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting and Health Minister Karin Smyth have both been invited to visit the hospital but neither have so far done so.
Morrison added: “It’s deeply disappointing that [they] haven’t found the time to visit.
“If they did, they’d understand why this can’t wait any longer.”
