The East of England is one of the very few regions without a dedicated specialist cancer hospital or specialist children’s hospital.

That’s why, throughout my time as an MP (and in my previous roles as a Health Minister and as Minister for Science, Research and Innovation), I have always actively campaigned for increased support for these two crucial parts of our NHS here in the East, and more widely.

I am firmly committed to continuing that work and, having long been a supporter of the campaign for a new Cancer Research Hospital and a new Children’s Hospital at Cambridge, I welcomed the chance to be involved in an update briefing earlier today – hearing how those projects is coming on.

I am pleased to report that construction on the new Cancer Research Hospital is intended to begin in 2024 – and will deliver a first-class NHS hospital (on a site located amongst a cluster of world leading healthcare research facilities) that will provide new capacity for highly-specialised care, alongside helping to drive forward innovative and more effective cancer diagnosis and treatment capabilities. This is a great step forwards for cancer research and treatment here in the Eastern region.

Similarly, construction on the new Children’s Hospital is also intended to begin in 2024 and will become a major hub for paediatric physical and mental health treatment for the East – ensuring that children (with their families) do not have to travel so far in order to receive the specialist treatment they urgently need.

Both hospitals are vital for long term health provision here in the East and I am delighted to be working with fellow parliamentary colleagues and the NHS to get them both over the line.

Following the fantastic news about the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn (see more here), it is very positive indeed that these strides are being made.

Rest assured, I will continue to offer my full support to these efforts – and look forward to providing further updates in due course.