Margaret Hodge campaigning to get Barking Hospital open with friends of Barking Hospital and other volunteers

»Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas has joined calls to get Barking Hospital open as soon as possible.

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As reported in last week’s Recorder, the facility – which could take some strain from Romford’s Queen’s Hospital – was given a £12m upgrade last March but is not yet open.

Mr Cruddas said that should happen “as a matter of the utmost urgency”.

He said: “Considering the immense pressure presently being placed on Queen’s Hospital – especially in regards to the maternity, A&E and radiology departments – it is imperative that Barking Hospital is opened as soon as possible.”

He added: “The brand new hospital is equipped with brilliant facilities, and yet has been empty and unused for a shameful nine months, and is not expected to open until the end of the year.

“This is a classic case of bureaucracy being blind to the urgent needs of the citizens it is there to serve. This shocking situation needs sorting. Fast.”

Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust first proposed plans for the hospital. The Trust became NHS Barking and Dagenham, which then changed to Outer North East London Community Services (ONEL).

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT) which runs Queen’s and King George hospitals hasn’t been involved in the development of the site.

A spokesman for NHS ONEL said last week the organisation was required to review plans for the whole of outer north east London and the Barking hospital has been included. He added: “However, commitment to opening the remaining services at Barking Hospital was never in question, but we are subject to legal timescales for procurement so must abide by these.”