Hartlepool MP Mike Hill self-isolates amid spread of coronavirus after meeting health minister

Mr Hill met with Edward Argar in Westminster this week to discuss the future of Hartlepool hospital.

But Mr Argar has also placed himself in isolation in his London flat due to having had contact with health minister Nadine Dorries who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Mr Hill has not reported having any symptoms of COVID-19, which include a high temperature and persistent cough.

“I’m alright,” he said. “It’s just a precaution.”

Current government advice for anyone with even mild symptoms is to stay at home for seven days.

Mr Hill said the meeting with Mr Argar went well, with the minister recognising the importance of the University Hospital of Hartlepool to the town.

Mr Hill pressed him for greater funding to see more services provided from the Holdforth Road site.

He said: “I made it plain to the Minister that the loss of our A&E was unacceptable and that it still resonates today with my constituents as something that should never have happened, and I made it clear that the recent issues around the drop in numbers of births at the Maternity Unit and historic plans to develop hospital land for housing under the guise of the creation of a Health Village has been seen by my constituents as an undermining of the hospital.

“It was acknowledged that the red lines put down by hospital campaigners, the council and myself have had an effect and that more investment is now going into the hospital, but I did press the point that only a return of consultant led services, such as in maternity, will suffice.

“The meeting established the fact that Hartlepool hospital is here to stay and has an important part to play in the future delivery of NHS acute services to the area and importantly we discussed the future pioneering opportunities we have to develop a social care strategy and partnership between the hospital trust, the CCG, (clinical commissioning group) the council, the hospice, the FE and Sixth Form Colleges and others to make Hartlepool a centre of excellence for the future delivery of universal health care services.

“Fighting for our hospital has always been a number one priority for me and I continue to do that.”

Related: What services are provided at Hartlepool hospital?

Mr Hill said Mr Argar promised to write to him outlining the Department of Health’s plans for Hartlepool, and he would share the reply with constituents.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has said it is committed to providing care locally in Hartlepool and the hospital is a key part of that.

In January, Trust Chief Executive Julie Gillon told the Mail on a visit to the hospital site: “Bringing back services to Hartlepool and on the Hartlepool site is absolutely within our strategy.”

But she said the Trust needed to be ‘realistic’ about what was possible.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has also written to Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry to ask for powers to allow local decision makers to reintroduce services at Hartlepool hospital.