FUNDING announcements for Leeds Hospitals NHS Trust and for palliative care have been welcomed by MP Stuart Andrew.

Mr Andrew, who represents Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, said he was delighted that £25.82 million was going towards the NHS Trust’s Consolidation of Pathology Services to set up a new open plan laboratory facility to centralise all Leeds Teaching Hospitals Pathology Services.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is a world leader in pathology and has made great strides in the digitisation of cancer diagnosis to make it faster and more accurate.

Mr Andrew said: “I am delighted with the news that this funding has been approved to the Leeds area. Increased funding for our NHS is something that I have long campaigned for and a topic I brought up to the Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock MP during his recent visit to the constituency.

“Cancer is something that is personal to all of us and this funding will benefit many of us in the local area, as well as benefitting the research in the area which will have a wider impact.”

He also welcomed an announcement from NHS England of an increase of up to £25 million per year for palliative care funding. The funding pledge follows the fund not fail campaign from Together for Short Lives, which Mr Andrew has campaigned for.

In November he visited Martin House Hospice as part of his support for the then proposed increase in funding. The Boston Spa hospice for children and young people provides support to nearly 600 families across the region. Funding will also go towards research and education to improve palliative care.

Mr Andrew said: “I am very pleased this funding increase has been announced. Palliative care is something that I believe is very important to fund as the care provided matters so much to the patients and their families in all communities, including our own.

“Having previously worked in this field, I have, and will continue to promote innovation and further investment in this vital sector to ensure the most effective care is available to all.”