WORCESTER MP Robin Walker has vowed to continue his campaign for extra investment and facilities at Worcestershire Royal Hospital (WRH).

The Conservative Member of Parliament welcomed the opening of a new Discharge Lounge at the city-based hospital this week – while promising to keep up pressure on the government for further improvements.

The hospital is facing a potential bed crisis this winter, with reports suggesting there could be an estimated shortfall of more than 40 beds meaning some patients will be sent to The Alexandra in Redditch.

Mr Walker said he recognises that “meeting the capacity challenge” is a “key priority” this winter and in future and that the hospital must continue to make “vital” steps towards getting out of special measures.

“Having campaigned hard for the extra facilities and funding that our hospital so clearly needs, I will keep campaigning to invest in and upgrade our local NHS,” he said.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has also announced a new chief executive in Matthew Hopkins, due to start in January, who Mr Walker said he is looking forward to working with.

Mr Hopkins stepped down from the same role at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals earlier this year in response to their worsening financial performance.

Sir David Nicholson, trust chairman, has defended the new CEO’s hiring, arguing “his attitude and determination to learn from these setbacks helped to confirm to me that he has insight, commitment and resilience”.

He said he was aware of Mr Hopkins’ past before he was invited for interview.

Despite the financial issues, Mr Hopkins is also widely credited as being the architect of BHRUT’s emergence from special measures last year.

Mr Hopkins said: “As chief executive, it was right that I accepted accountability for the situation – and the lessons learned will be valuable in shaping my approach to helping WAHT plan and deliver a robust financial plan for the future.”

WRH’s new 18 patient capacity Discharge Lounge will take in patients who are due to be discharged – making room in the acute beds.

The new facility comes as Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock also announced almost £4million in new investment in a Breast Imaging Improvement Plan for Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

The new investment is part of £1billion extra capital funding being announced across England – on top of the £20.5bn per year extra funding for the NHS over the next five years.