MP's welcome for £68m debt write-off for Blackpool Victoria Hospital

The Vic is among more than a hundred NHS hospitals nationwide to benefit from the government announcement to write off more than £13bn of historic debt across England.

Mr Benton said: "I am delighted that Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will have £67.8m worth of debt written off as part of the government’s announcement to reset NHS finances.

“This will help put NHS hospitals, mental health and community services across Blackpool south in a stronger position not only to deal with coronavirus in the short term, but on a stable footing in the long term as well.

“The government is committed to doing whatever it takes to tackle coronavirus – and this announcement will the NHS the financial certainty it needs to respond to the pandemic and help save lives.”

The write-offs are part of a package of NHS funding reforms aimed at taking financial pressure off hospitals as they battle with the coronavirus outbreak.