Two announcements on succesive days connected with the medical world and South Cambridgeshire, have brought welcoming messages from our MP, the Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE – confirmation of Papworth Hospital's move to a new site on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Pfizer confirming its commitment to AstraZeneca moving to a new R&D hub in Cambridge if it's successful in its bid for the company.

Papworth Hospital

Ending speculation of Papworth Hosipital moving to Peterborough, the Chancellor and Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced the hospital is to move from its current location in Papworth Everard to a new site on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

The relocation will enable Papworth to work with Addenbrooke’s Hospital as a world-class centre for clinical and biomedical science, while allowing patients improved access to the full-breadth of specialist diagnostic and clinical services the two hospitals offer.

“This is truly excellent news," says Andrew Lansley MP.  "We've been pressing for this for a long time, and I'd like to pay tribute to all of those at Papworth who put together the case for a new hospital.

"For some time there's been a compelling clinical need for Papworth and Addenbrooke’s to be located side-by-side in the best interests of their patients.

"By enabling the two teams to work together to develop new clinical research programmes, they will become one of the leading hospitals in Europe.

“This will secure the high-quality services Papworth delivers – particularly in relation to transplants, cancer services (in particular lung cancer and mesothelioma) and the treatment of major trauma and diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis.

“The new hospital will represent a tremendous boost to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.  The move will strengthen Papworth’s close links with the University of Cambridge, Medical Research Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital – and reinforce the Campus as a world-leader for health-related research.”

Construction of the new facilities is projected to begin in 2015 and complete by 2017-2018.

►  Cambridge News report.

Pfizer / AstraZeneca

Ian Read, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, has written to the Prime Minister regarding Pfizer’s proposed merger with AstraZeneca and the implications for South Cambridgeshire.

In it, Mr Read confirmed Pfizer's commitment, if successful in its bid, to the completion of the planned move by AstraZeneca of its R&D base to Cambridge and the retention of its Macclesfield manufacturing facilities.

The new site will create a substantial R&D innovation hub in Cambridge and the wider scientific community.  Pfizer says it will base key scientific personnel here – they will lead all European and global R&D functions from its Cambridge base.

"Pfizer recognises Cambridge is now among the world’s leading centres for life sciences research and development," says Andrew Lansley.

"Both Pfizer and AztraZeneca rightly want to be here in order to benefit from the unique combination of advanced research, discovery and clinical expertise.

“Regardless of the ultimate outcome of the bidding process – which is now a matter for AstraZeneca's board and shareholders – this commitment gives certainty for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and its cluster of life sciences companies."

►  Cambridge News report.

You can contact Andrew at his constituency office

      Andrew Lansley CBE MP
      153 St Neots Road
      Hardwick
      Cambridge
      CB23 7QJ

            T  01954 212 707
            E  lansleya@parliament.uk
            W  Andrew Lansley 
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