Island candidates for the Reform Party are calling for the Island’s NHS to “get our £10 million back”. In 2019 ,the Island’s NHS Trust was awarded £48million to improve healthcare for Islanders. Controversially, more than 20% of it, £10 million, was handed over to build 2 new wards at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, providing 72 new beds. At the time it was said that this would ‘ensure greater resilience for the Island population’ when treated on the mainland. However, it has since been reported that the beds are used for Islanders less than 3% of the time. Recently NHS Hampshire started a consultation on how to spend between £700 and £900 million, just 1 day after St Mary’s Hospital declared yet another Critical Incident, meaning Islanders should only attend hospital for life-threatening emergencies. The funds appear to have already been allocated to mainland hospitals, with no mention of the Isle of Wight. Sarah Morris, who will stand for Isle of Wight East at the next General Election, and Ian Pickering (Isle of Wight West) are calling for the £10million to be repaid and used on the Island. Sarah said:
“£10 million could fund the extra beds and staff needed to ease the strain on our ever-struggling hospital. If you would like your name added to our campaign get in touch – our voices are loudest together.”
Ian added:
“Bob Seely MP never spoke out against this money going to the mainland – indeed he supported it. We have contacted him to ask whether he will support our campaign to get this money back to treat Islanders – as it was intended.”
