Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark has enthusiastically welcomed the decision of the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority to approve the business case for the new Pembury Hospital and refer it to the Department of Health to proceed. At the Board meeting of the Strategic Health Authority on Thursday 14th February, the “Final Confirming Business Case” for the hospital was approved.

Welcoming the decision to proceed, Greg Clark commented:

“This is a huge step forward for our local community. Work could start on the new £227m Pembury hospital within weeks.

“The Strategic Health Authority’s decision now moves us tantalisingly close to building work beginning. This was one of the last hurdles we had to overcome. The decision now rests finally with the Government.

“Our community has fought long and hard for the new Pembury Hospital to be built and we should now see the first new facilities opened in November 2010, with the final phase in 2011/2012.

“Last year Secretary of State Alan Johnson gave me a guarantee in the House of Commons that the £227m hospital would go ahead and I am delighted that this afternoon it has taken a great step forward.

“This transformation of our hospitals from two of the most out-of-date in the country to one of the very best is long overdue and will be a relief to everyone in the area.”