Politics

Labour says Government will break manifesto pledge to build 40 new hospitals

The hospitals all have vital quantities of strengthened autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), a light-weight kind of concrete with a restricted lifespan, after which it deteriorates considerably.

Officials have requested the Government to prioritise the rebuilding of those hospitals given the dangers they pose to sufferers and employees. 

They stated the complete extent of the risks solely got here to gentle because the New Hospital Programme was introduced in 2020.

“As a result of this reprioritisation, as well as the rising cost of construction materials, up to eight schemes that were originally due to be constructed towards the end of the decade will now be completed past 2030,” officers stated.

In the Commons, Mr Barclay insisted the manifesto pledge could be met, albeit with a distinct record of 40 hospitals.

“The cohort schemes will all proceed, but the commitment to completion by 2030 applies to the 40 schemes set out today. Which meets our manifesto commitment to build 40 hospitals by 2030,” he stated. 

He added that each one the constructing programmes dealing with delays would nonetheless see work begin throughout the subsequent two years.

“They will be part of a rolling programme where not all work will be completed by 2030, and this is a reflection of the disruption that two years of the Covid pandemic has caused, as well as the pressure from construction inflation,” he stated. 

‘Simply not going to happen’

However, Wes Streeting, the shadow well being secretary, stated: “I genuinely anticipated that the Secretary of State may come to the home at this time and be upfront about the truth that no matter guarantees the previous prime minister made in 2019, the pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is just not going to occur.

“It was an easy dedication, 40 new hospitals. Except since then we’ve turn out to be acquainted with the concept that they weren’t new, and astonishingly they weren’t even new hospitals. Since that common election we’ve had extra new well being secretaries than we’ve had new hospitals.

“People in these locations had been made a promise and the Secretary of State has the audacity to repeat that promise at this time when absolutely he is aware of that even when the will is there and even when the cash is there, virtually I merely don’t see or perceive how he will give you the chance to ship 40 new hospitals by 2030.”

Ministers stated on Thursday {that a} file £20bn could be spent on new hospital infrastructure. 

Two hospitals within the programme are already full and 5 are in building. Officials added that by the top of subsequent yr greater than 20 will be underway or full.

Mr Barclay stated the 5 hospitals in “pressing need of repair” had been being prioritsed so sufferers and employees may benefit from main new hospital buildings, outfitted with the most recent know-how.

“On top of this I’m strengthening our New Hospital Programme by today confirming that it is expected to represent more than £20 billion of new investment in hospital infrastructure,” he stated.

“As we approach the 75th anniversary of our fantastic NHS, this extra investment will ensure it can care for patients for decades to come and help cut waiting lists so they get the treatment they need quicker.”

Officials additionally promised a rolling programme of capital funding in hospital infrastructure to develop new hospitals past 2030, permitting for greater than the 40 new hospitals to be inbuilt the long term.

‘Disgraceful broken promise’

Daisy Cooper, the well being spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats, stated: “This is shaping up to be a disgraceful damaged promise to communities throughout the nation. Frankly, 2030 is pie within the sky.

“There remains to be no signal of those new hospitals and at this time confirms for some, there will be no spades within the floor for years to come. What a farce.”

Nigel Edwards, the chief govt of assume tank The Nuffield Trust, stated: “This is a welcome recommitment to the ailing new hospitals programme, which appears to have been continuing extraordinarily slowly. 

“It ought to assist NHS trusts get to work on changing dilapidated buildings, together with tackling unsafe short-term roofs, and to present higher and extra fashionable services for sufferers.

“However, it’s unclear if the funding sums talked about at this time characterize new cash added to the NHS capital funds. 

“If there is no such thing as a extra money to go round, we shouldn’t make the error of raiding funds which can be additionally urgently wanted for upgrading insufficient NHS IT or addressing the backlog of upkeep which hasn’t been achieved.”

‘Impossible to continue patching up our oldest facilities’

Meanwhile, Professor Tim Orchard, chief govt of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust which runs St Mary’s, stated the hospital’s redevelopment was pressing. 

“We are continuing to explore, with the support of the New Hospital Programme, a range of practical funding and design options to ensure a full re-build of St Mary’s Hospital – and a start on the major refurbishment and expansion schemes at Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals – by 2030,” he stated. 

He added that delays may make it “impossible to continue to patch up our oldest facilities”.

“As the provider of London’s busiest major trauma centre and host of the NHS’s largest biomedical research centre, that would be hugely damaging for the health and healthcare of hundreds of thousands of people,” he stated. 

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