Health secretary Matt Hancock has agreed to make a visit to High Wycombe to discuss the future of the town's "increasingly tired" hospital.

Wycombe MP Steve Baker invited Mr Hancock to visit his constituency so they can talk about what the future holds for Wycombe Hospital - as the CEO of Bucks' Healthcare Trust admits they are having to rely on "ageing" technology and have had to put off maintenance to their buildings.

Mr Baker referred to the hospital, on Queen Alexandra Road, as an "increasingly tired 1960s tower block" in Parliament on Tuesday.

Accepting the Wycombe MP's request to visit, Mr Hancock said: "I am absolutely happy to look at that.

"We have put in place the health infrastructure plan to ensure that there is a long-term plan for replacing ailing hospitals. That includes the ability to make new proposals that were not announced in the first round.

"I am happy to visit Wycombe, which is a beautiful town."

After the exchange, Mr Baker said: "We can be incredibly proud of how NHS staff have improved local services since 2010. We now need to look for investment in technology and ageing buildings, which is why the government is spending an additional £33.9 billion by 2023/24 and bringing forward the Health Infrastructure Plan.

“I know from my regular meetings with Buckinghamshire NHS managers that our tower block is increasingly tired, so my top local priority in the next parliament is to obtain the necessary investment for Wycombe. I was delighted today to hear that Wycombe is to receive funding for a new MRI scanner.

“I am pleased the secretary of state for health agreed to come to High Wycombe to discuss what is needed. I look forward to welcoming the secretary of state and helping local NHS managers to make their case on our behalf.”

Neil McDonald, chief executive officer for the Buckinghamshire NHS Healthcare Trust said he welcomed Mr Baker's support in raising the issue - saying that Bucks' hospitals need more funding so they can become "world class".

He said: "In order to fulfil our vision to significantly transform and improve healthcare provision in Buckinghamshire and provide the kind of care our staff are keen to deliver and our local communities require the Trust needs greater capital investment and long term funding not only for our buildings, but to improve our digital infrastructure, including diagnostic equipment.

As well as keeping patients safe, our Trust Board has a legal duty to ensure we make the best use of taxpayers’ money. At BHT increasingly low levels of capital funding and a focus on reducing expenditure in the face of an increasing and steadily ageing population has meant we’ve had to make tough choices about how we manage our finances.

"These tough decisions have often driven us to continue to be reliant on ageing diagnostic equipment, and put off overdue maintenance work adding to sizeable maintenance backlog. In addition, the lack of significant investment in our digital infrastructure over time is holding us back from delivering truly world class services.

"Despite these challenges I’m proud of the improvements we’re delivering on a daily basis, in partnership with health and social care providers across the county, which are making a real difference to those for whom we care.

"However, in order for the Trust continue on our journey from CQC-rated ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ and become one of the safest healthcare systems in the country, significant capital investment is key in both the physical and digital infrastructure of our organisation.”

Wycombe Hospital was built in three phases throughout the 1960s and 70s.

The first phase started in 1963, while the second, which provided an A&E department with outpatient beds, and X-ray, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and medical records departments, was finished in 1969.

In 1971 phase three was completed and provided another 120 beds, together with maternity, gynaecology and paediatric departments and a midwifery training school.