By Richard Whitehouse/LDR

A Cornish MP has written to the Secretary of State for Health to raise concerns about delays to a new women and children's unit planned on the site of Cornwall's main hospital. It was revealed last week that the new unit could be delayed until 2027.

The women and children's unit at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro was part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's pledge to build 40 new hospitals across the country as part of a £850million project. The Treliske scheme was set to get £100m from the Government and had previously been planned for completion in 2024.

However, hospital bosses revealed last week that the project was delayed until at least 2027 due to a rise in construction costs which meant that they are having to review the project budget and submit a new business case to the Government.

Today Cherilyn Mackrory, MP for Truro and Falmouth, said that she had written to Secretary of State for health Stephen Barclay to look into the issue and come to Cornwall to find out about the project.

In her letter, she states: "Last week I met with senior management at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust where I was informed there is now likely to be delays to the delivery of the new Women and Children's Hospital set to be built at Treliske in Truro.

"Since then, it has also been reported in the local press and has been met with local outrage. I am also frustrated and disappointed by the delays to date. As I understand it, the Trust want to submit the new business case for the new hospital, but they are simply not able to. By not being able to submit a business case, costs are rising by the day.

"While I may have reservations about the new predicted costs to build the new hospital, because of the delays we now have to contend with inflation and the significant increase in building materials.

"The future of the project is now also being questioned locally – will this new hospital ever be built? I am absolutely determined that it is. At the last election we made a promise to the people of Cornwall that we would build a new Women and Children's hospital, as part of the pledge to deliver 40 new hospitals across the country. That was a promise to the Cornish people and a promise we must keep.

"As the Co-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss, I have seen first-hand how fantastic our doctors, nurses and midwives are at Treliske. This new hospital would absolutely transform maternity and women's health in Cornwall.

"I have spent the last two years fighting for this new hospital with your two predecessors, and I hope you will be able to help me deliver it.

"Therefore, I would like to personally invite you to Cornwall to visit Treliske with me to meet our wonderful frontline staff, and to hear about our plans for this exciting new hospital."