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- Strategy for all hospital initiatives in the restructured New Hospital Programme to be implemented
- New strategy outlines a feasible and accurately budgeted construction timetable
- Previous initiative was delayed, unfinanced, and unable to be executed
The government has confirmed today funding and a sensible schedule to realign the New Hospital Programme for the delivery of all its hospital initiatives.
This dependable timeline for execution will ensure that personnel and patients can access the facilities they urgently require across the nation as swiftly as possible.
This follows an evaluation of the initiative which revealed that the prior government’s pledge to deliver ’40 new hospitals’ by 2030 was delayed, unfinanced, and therefore not feasible.
In its annual review published last week, the Infrastructure Projects Authority (IPA) also classified the previous initiative as ‘unachievable’, marking the programme with a red rating and emphasizing significant difficulties related to the timeline and budget. An independent IPA review upgraded the New Hospitals Programme from red to amber last week due to measures taken to enhance deliverability.
For instance, in May 2023, the past government declared that the programme was supported by over £20 billion in investment – yet this funding was never realized.
This administration is dedicated to revitalizing our NHS and restoring confidence in the government. The new strategy, which is feasible and transparent, will be supported by £15 billion of fresh investment over successive five-year periods, averaging £3 billion annually.
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, stated:
The New Hospital Programme we inherited was unfinanced and not executable. No new hospital was constructed in the last five years, and there was no credible funding strategy to construct forty in the forthcoming five years.
Upon entering the Department of Health and Social Care, I was informed that the funding for the New Hospitals Programme would expire in March. We were committed to establishing a solid foundation for the programme so that we can build the new hospitals our NHS requires.
Today we are outlining a transparent, financed, and executable programme to rejuvenate our NHS.
This administration inherited facilities and apparatus across the NHS that had been neglected, complicating patient care and impairing staff efficiency.
As Lord Darzi uncovered in his investigation, the NHS was deprived of capital during the last decade, suffering £37 billion in under-investment throughout the 2010s, resulting in some hospitals having roofs that had collapsed, and pipes that froze in winter due to leaks.
Constructing an NHS infrastructure that is suitable for the future is essential to the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to restore the health service to stability and reduce waiting times. At the Budget, the Chancellor revealed that health capital expenditure in the NHS is anticipated to reach unprecedented levels of £13.6 billion in 2025-26.
For projects that were outside the review’s parameters, those already with sanctioned Full Business Cases will advance as planned and are presently under construction (Wave 0).
The remaining initiatives will be classified into one of three wave groups:
- Initiatives in Wave 1 are expected to commence construction between 2025 and 2030. These projects involve hospitals built primarily using RAAC and have been prioritized for the safety of patients and staff.
- Initiatives in Wave 2 are expected to commence construction between 2030 and 2035.
- Initiatives in Wave 3 are expected to commence construction between 2035 and 2039.
Hospitals in later waves will receive support for their development and initial construction efforts beforehand, ensuring they are prepared for main construction.
The plan for execution delineates a clear schedule of projects to be realized over the coming decade and beyond. The New Hospital Programme will continue collaborating closely with industry to facilitate construction, foster relationships, and secure investment within the supply chain.
Morag Stuart, Chief Programme Officer for the New Hospital Programme, mentioned:
This update from the Department of Health and Social Care provides clarity on the forthcoming actions for the New Hospital Programme.
We will persist in collaborating with local NHS organizations to implement enhancements to hospitals across England, which includes optimizing the use of new technologies and improving layouts – ensuring future hospitals are designed to accommodate the needs of patients and staff.
The New Hospital Programme is a vital aspect of the government’s broader commitment to renovating the NHS infrastructure. Over £1 billion has been allocated to address the existing backlog of essential maintenance, repairs, and upgrades, while £102 million has been earmarked for improvements to GP facilities across England as the initial phase towards transforming primary care assets.
This revitalized and transparent direction for the NHP will revolutionize the delivery of hospital healthcare, constructing an NHS suitable for the future.
Notes to editors
This page was generated automatically. To view the article in its original form, please follow the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-deliver-all-schemes-in-new-hospital-programme
and if you wish to have this article removed from our website, please reach out to us