Protesters call for urgent repairs at the QEH
"The hospital is falling down around the hard-working staff who are trying to fight against the Covid pandemic."
Last updated 12th Apr 2021
Protesters have been out in King's Lynn today to call for more funding to rebuild the QE.
They're saying funding needs to be secured to repair parts of the hospital immediately in order to keep patients and staff safe.
It comes after it was revealed parts of the 41-year-old building were being held up by more than 100 metal props.
Campaigner, Jo Rust, said:
"There are multiple problems at the hospital.
"It was built as a 'best buy' hospital, meaning it had a limited shelf-life, and that expired in 2005, so we're 15-16 years over the hospital's life.
"The hospital is falling down around the hard-working staff who are trying to fight against the Covid pandemic.
"There's also clinicians who have to treat a certain amount of patients to keep their skills up, but if patients are not allowed to use parts of the hospital because it's not safe, they'll effectively be de-skilled, and won't want to stay here.
"Then it will create a vicious cycle of skilled workers leaving and things becoming harder for the remaining staff."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are committed to improving health infrastructure across the country and are backing the NHS with £4.2 billion for hospitals to maintain and refurbish their buildings this year.
"As part of this the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn will receive over £20 million to address the most immediate issues.
“Alongside this we have confirmed funding for 40 hospitals across the country, with a further eight schemes invited to bid for future funding to deliver 48 hospitals by 2030.”