REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has said she'll do "whatever it takes" to make sure residents can see the benefits of a promised £29m healthcare investment.

The MP has expressed her frustration at how long the £29m healthcare investment promised by the Government in July is taking to reach the place where it is most needed.

The cash boost, confirmed by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England boss Simon Stevens, will see the Worcestershire Royal Hospital getting upgraded maternity wards, theatres and children’s services, while the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch will get extra money to pay for improvements to the elective care centre, endoscopy, children’s outpatients and an upgrade in theatres.

Since being elected in June Mrs Maclean has since been working hard to push those responsible for delivering on these plans.

However, while the money has been approved, the hospital trust has not been able to gain access to it meaning it can’t appoint architects or start any work.

Mrs Maclean, who has had held several meetings to try to speed things up, said: “While I agree that public money needs to be spent carefully, the people of Redditch have been promised these funds for our hospital for some time now.

"And a lot of work has gone into creating the business case to support the grant. We need to see action, and we need to see building work starting sooner rather than later, to make the much-needed improvements to our local health services.

“I will continue to push for this behind the scenes, so we get the first-class health services we deserve."

She added: "I am frustrated this is taking so long, and it simply isn’t good enough. Whatever it takes to get this funding ready to go, I will do it.”

Earlier this week the MP had a meeting with Dale Bywater, head of NHS improvement, in Parliament.

This body is tasked with making sure tax-payers’ money is spent responsibly and in line with long-term health plans for our area.