Lib Dems take fight to save Stepping Hill to Downing Street

1 Jul 2025
Leader of Stockport Council Mark Roberts, Lisa Smart MP and Tom Morrison MP present over 6,000 signatures to the Department of Health

Over 6,000 residents back urgent call for repairs and a long-term plan

Last week, Cheadle MP Tom Morrison, Hazel Grove MP Lisa Smart, and Leader of Stockport Council Cllr Mark Roberts handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street, signed by 6,123 local residents. The petition demands urgent repairs for Stepping Hill Hospital and a long-term strategy for a modern, centrally located healthcare facility in Stockport.

The petition calls on the Department of Health to address the hospital’s £130 million repair backlog. Years of underinvestment have left parts of the facility condemned, corridors flooded, and ceiling fixtures falling in clinical areas. In addition to immediate repairs, campaigners demand a new, additional medical site in central Stockport, located near the transport interchange, to secure the long-term sustainability of local NHS services.

Lisa Smart MP, who recently met with Health Minister Karin Smyth about the future of the hospital, said:

“Residents are rightly worried about the state of Stepping Hill, and I’ve heard from hundreds of people about the profound impact the hospital’s condition is having on them and their families. I raised those concerns directly with the Minister in our recent meeting and was heartened by her willingness to engage. But warm words aren’t enough, we now need concrete action, both to fix the hospital in the short term and to deliver a second site in the longer term. The community has spoken, 6,123 signatures strong, and the Government must now listen.”

Tom Morrison MP said:

“Over 6,000 people have backed this petition because they’ve seen first-hand how badly Stepping Hill is struggling. I’ve spoken to staff working in flooded wards and patients worried about safety in ageing buildings. This petition is a clear sign that our community is united, we need urgent funding for critical repairs, and we need a long-term plan for the future. The Liberal Democrats will keep fighting until we see action.”

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, added:

“The situation at Stepping Hill is simply not sustainable. Our amazing NHS staff are doing everything they can in crumbling and unsafe buildings, it’s not fair on them, and it’s not fair on patients. We need urgent repairs now, but we also need to plan for the future. That means securing investment for a modern, centrally located healthcare facility near Stockport Interchange to meet the needs of our growing community. Residents from across Stockport including Cheadle, Hazel Grove, Bramhall, Bredbury, Offerton, Marple, and beyond deserve it. Today’s petition hand-in shows just how determined our community is to see change.”

The petition campaign has garnered widespread support from residents across the Borough, including communities in Stockport, Cheadle, Hazel Grove, Bredbury, Marple, and surrounding areas. The Liberal Democrats remain committed to pushing the Government until both the immediate repairs and a long-term strategy for local NHS services are delivered.

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