The government has announced significant delays in England's hospital building programme, with some projects facing waits of up to 14 years before construction begins.
This setback comes despite a 2019 Conservative election pledge by Boris Johnson to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030.
The warning that the pledge 'appears to be unachievable' came from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), as Health Secretary Wes Streeting prepared to tell MPs how the government plans to proceed with 25 of the 40 rebuilds which have been paused.
Streeting criticised the original plan as unrealistic and underfunded, accusing the Conservatives of giving 'false hope'. Labour, which in September approved 21 hospital schemes, has revealed plans for an additional 25 projects. However, 18 of these will not commence until 2032 or later.
In 2023, the National Audit Office warned that the government was unlikely to meet its 2030 target. While the original commitment was for 40 hospitals, additional projects were added over time, increasing the scope and complexity of the programme.
In September, Labour approved 21 schemes, some of which had already begun. These included replacements for buildings constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). The government have since added seven more projects to its priority list, with work scheduled to start by 2029.
However, 18 projects have been pushed back, with construction planned in two phases: the first starting in 2032 and the second in 2035. Some hospitals in the latter group may not see progress until as late as 2039.
Streeting defended the revised timetable, emphasising the importance of a realistic and funded approach. He announced a £15 billion investment over the next five years to support the construction efforts. 'The programme we inherited was unfunded and undeliverable. Today we are setting out an honest, funded and deliverable plan to rebuild our NHS,' he stated.
NHS providers, representing hospitals, have described the announcement as a 'major blow' to trusts, staff and patients, and have raised concerns about the long-term impact on patients and healthcare delivery in England.
Hospitals affected by the delays:
Construction from 2032:
Construction from 2035:
