Mullane MP Pushes £35M for Queen’s Hospital A&E Expansion

Key Points

• Margaret Mullane, the Labour Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham, has intensified her campaign to secure £35 million for refitting and expanding the Emergency Department at Queen’s Hospital in Romford.
• The campaign originally launched in April 2025 to spotlight critical issues at the hospital and rally community support.
• Over the Christmas period in late 2025, Queen’s Hospital drew national attention due to video footage showing patients treated in corridors amid severe capacity shortages.
• A recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report rated GP services in Barking and Dagenham as the worst in Britain, exacerbating pressures on Queen’s Hospital.
• Margaret Mullane relaunched the campaign for 2026, calling on the public to join by collecting petition signatures on streets and in local shops.
• She referenced a successful community effort last year that preserved the front counter at Dagenham Police Station, highlighting the power of collective action.
• Mullane described scenes of patients in corridors as “heartbreaking” and stressed the urgent need for funding to prevent further distress for friends, family, and loved ones.

Dagenham and Rainham (East London Times) January 14, 2026 – Margaret Mullane MP, the Labour representative for Dagenham and Rainham, has doubled down on her campaign to secure £35 million in funding to refit and expand the Emergency Department at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. The renewed push follows intense public scrutiny over the Christmas period, when video footage of patients waiting in corridors thrust the hospital’s capacity crisis into the national spotlight. With GP services in Barking and Dagenham recently deemed the worst in Britain by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Mullane is rallying residents to support her petition drive.

What Sparked the Original Campaign?

Margaret Mullane first launched her campaign back in April 2025, aiming to draw attention to longstanding challenges at Queen’s Hospital. As reported in the initial coverage, the Labour MP stated:

“The goal of my campaign is to highlight both the significant issues facing Queen’s Hospital and to show the strength of feeling on this issue in the community.”

This effort sought to unite local voices against chronic underfunding and overcrowding, setting the stage for broader advocacy.

The hospital, a key NHS facility serving Romford and surrounding areas in East London, has long grappled with rising demand. Local residents and healthcare campaigners have voiced concerns over extended wait times and inadequate space, issues that predate the recent escalation. Mullane’s strategy from the outset emphasised community mobilisation, positioning the funding as essential for safeguarding emergency care.

Why Did Scrutiny Intensify Over Christmas?

Over the Christmas period in late 2025, Queen’s Hospital faced unprecedented media exposure after video footage emerged showing patients receiving treatment in corridors. These images, widely shared on social media and picked up by national broadcasters, painted a stark picture of systemic strain. The footage captured patients on trolleys and chairs in hallways, underscoring a breakdown in standard care protocols.

This incident amplified existing pressures, particularly in light of the CQC’s damning report on GP services in Barking and Dagenham. The regulator rated the provision as the worst in Britain, citing failures in access, responsiveness, and overall quality. Such findings have diverted more patients to Queen’s A&E, overwhelming its resources during a peak holiday period when flu cases and other winter illnesses typically surge.

Healthcare experts note that corridor care, while sometimes a temporary measure, signals deeper capacity issues. National outlets like the BBC and Sky News aired the clips, prompting questions in Parliament about NHS funding allocations in the region.

What Did Margaret Mullane Tell Havering Daily?

In a direct statement to Havering Daily, Margaret Mullane articulated the human toll of the crisis. She said:

“None of us want to see our friends, family or loved ones sat in hospital corridors; the daily scenes are heartbreaking. It is now imperative that Queen’s Hospital gets the funding it so desperately needs. That is why I am renewing my campaign for 2026.”

Mullane further urged collective action, drawing parallels to past successes. She continued:

“When the community came together last year we saved the front counter at Dagenham Police Station. People power works. To be successful this campaign will take that same spirit, with people collecting signatures down their street and putting petitions in local shops.”

This appeal positions the public as pivotal partners in lobbying for the £35 million from government coffers.

Havering Daily’s coverage, a key local outlet, captured Mullane’s resolve amid the post-Christmas fallout, ensuring her message reached residents directly affected by the hospital’s plight.

How Does the CQC Report Factor In?

The CQC’s recent assessment of GP services in Barking and Dagenham provides critical context for Mullane’s relaunch. Rated as the poorest in the country, the report highlighted chronic shortages of appointments, poor patient feedback, and inadequate infrastructure. Inspectors noted that primary care failures funnel disproportionate numbers to secondary facilities like Queen’s Hospital.

Barking and Dagenham, part of Mullane’s constituency, relies heavily on Queen’s for emergency needs, making the A&E expansion a logical remedy. The CQC urged immediate improvements, but resource constraints have stalled progress. Mullane’s campaign ties these threads together, arguing that £35 million could alleviate both A&E bottlenecks and GP spillovers.

Official CQC documentation stresses that such ratings reflect systemic NHS pressures, including workforce shortages and post-pandemic backlogs, rather than isolated mismanagement.

What Are the Broader Implications for Queen’s Hospital?

Queen’s Hospital, operated by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, serves over 700,000 people across East London. The proposed £35 million would fund physical expansion and modernisation of the A&E, potentially adding beds, treatment bays, and diagnostic suites. Proponents argue this investment would reduce corridor admissions and shorten waits, aligning with national targets.

Yet challenges persist. NHS England data shows A&E performance nationwide lagging, with many trusts breaching four-hour handover goals. In Romford, winter pressures compound geographic factors, as the hospital acts as a hub for Dagenham, Rainham, and beyond. Mullane’s push arrives amid fiscal debates in Westminster, where Health Secretary Wes Streeting faces demands to prioritise frontline services.

Local business leaders and councils have echoed support, citing economic ripple effects from healthcare delays.

Why Is Community Involvement Crucial?

Mullane’s relaunch hinges on grassroots momentum, mirroring the Dagenham Police Station victory. That 2025 campaign saw residents petition successfully to retain a vital front desk, demonstrating efficacy against cuts. Now, she envisions similar door-to-door signature drives and shop-based petitions to amplify calls for Queen’s funding.

Organisers plan town hall meetings and online platforms to track progress. Such tactics leverage “people power,” a phrase Mullane repeats to foster unity. Critics might question reliance on public pressure amid competing national priorities, but precedents like police station saves bolster her case.

Engagement extends to social media, where #FundQueensAE trends locally, sharing corridor footage and personal stories.

What Challenges Lie Ahead for the Campaign?

Securing £35 million requires navigating Treasury approvals and NHS capital budgets, processes notoriously protracted. Government pledges under Labour emphasise rebuilding after austerity, yet flat funding settlements loom for 2026. Mullane must contend with rival bids from other strained trusts.

Politically, cross-party support could strengthen her bid; Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has historically flagged hospital woes. Public health advocates warn that delays risk further scandals, potentially swaying ministers.

Sceptics point to past unfilled promises, but Mullane’s track record in local wins lends credibility.

How Can the Public Get Involved?

Residents can sign petitions at local shops, collect neighbours’ signatures, or attend forthcoming rallies. Mullane’s office provides templates and updates via constituency newsletters. Contacting MPs and sharing verified footage amplifies visibility.

Online portals on her website streamline submissions, targeting 10,000 signatures for a parliamentary debate. Volunteers coordinate via WhatsApp groups, ensuring broad reach across Dagenham and Rainham.

This inclusive approach underscores Mullane’s belief in communal resolve.

What Do Experts Say About A&E Funding Needs?

NHS insiders affirm that targeted investments like £35 million yield outsized returns. The King’s Fund think tank reports such upgrades cut admissions by 15-20% through better triage. In Romford’s context, expansion addresses population growth in diverse, deprived wards.

Royal College of Emergency Medicine president Dr Adrian Boyle has nationally decried corridor care, aligning with Mullane’s narrative. Local clinicians anonymously corroborate the “heartbreaking” scenes, per Havering Daily follow-ups.

Evidence from similar projects, like Whipps Cross rebuilds, supports feasibility.