Boris Johnson tells ITV News Anglia he'll try to make 'Christmas as normal as possible'

  • Watch Emma Hutchinson's interview with Boris Johnson

    Boris Johnson has defended his handling of the Covid-19 crisis. In an interview with ITV News Anglia the Prime Minister has said he will do everything he can to make Christmas as normal as possible. 

Shortly after the interview, Mr Johnson confirmed funding for ''40 new hospitals across England", that will be built by 2030 as part of a package worth £3.7 billion.

The plans include the rebuild of three hospitals in the region and a new cancer hospital at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge. They include:

  • Princess Alexandra Hospital  - Harlow

A new integrated, high tech healthcare campus to replace the ageing Princess Alexandra Hospital. 

  • West Suffolk Hospital  - Bury St Edmunds

To rebuild West Suffolk Hospital, replace poor estate and provide a better patient environment at West Suffolk Hospital.

  • Milton Keynes Hospital

To build a new women and children’s hospital at Milton Keynes hospital.

In some cases, new hospitals will be built on new sites, the Department of Health said, but in other cases, a new hospital will be built on an existing site to replace existing facilities.

The Government said the package is worth £3.7 billion, with trusts that received seed funding now all fully funded to deliver 25 hospitals.

Call to follow public health advice after growing numbers of coronavirus in Great Yarmouth Credit: ITV Anglia

The news comes as concerns grow over rising cases in parts of our region including Great Yarmouth and fears of more lockdown restrictions as we head into winter.

Luton has also been put back onto the government's watchlist as an area of concern.  But what do people in the Anglia region think about the Prime Minsters handling of the pandemic?

ITV Anglia reporter Rob Setchell's been finding out...

Coronavirus: Everything you need to know