The UK government has admitted that a significant number of planned hospital building projects across England are facing major delays, with some waiting as long as 14 years before construction begins. Health Secretary Wes Streeting attributed the delays to financial constraints, stating that the projects, which were a key part of the Conservative Party's 2019 election promise, are not affordable within the current budget.
A multitude of hospital construction projects across England are facing significant delays, with some projects expected to wait as long as 14 years before work commences, according to the government. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that the plans, which were a cornerstone of the Conservative Party's 2019 election pledge to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030, are financially unsustainable.
In September, the Labour Party announced that 21 schemes would proceed, building upon an initial group where work had already begun or aimed to replace buildings constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), a material raising safety concerns. However, on Monday, the government unveiled a revised list, adding seven more projects to the priority list for construction completion by 2029. Unfortunately, 18 projects were relegated to a later phase, with construction slated to begin in two stages from 2032 and 2035, and some facing a potential start date as late as 2039.Streeting emphasized the dire state of NHS infrastructure, stating that not a single new hospital had been built in the past five years and that there was no viable funding plan to construct forty new hospitals within the next five years. He pledged that £15 billion would be allocated over the next five years to support these projects. Ed Agar, the Shadow Health Secretary, criticized the government for 'breaking' its promises and accused it of financial mismanagement, stating that the government's failure to prioritize new hospital construction demonstrated a lack of commitment to patient care. Helen Morgan, from the Liberal Democrats, condemned the government's actions as a 'double betrayal,' accusing them of making promises with no intention of keeping them. She further criticized the timing of the announcement, coinciding with Donald Trump's inauguration, as a deliberate attempt to downplay the seriousness of the situation. Saffron Cordery, representing NHS Providers, which advocates for hospitals, expressed deep concern, characterizing the announcement as a 'major blow' to hospital trusts, staff, and patients.
HEALTHCARE HOSPITAL BUILDING ENGLAND NHS FUNDING DELAYS GOVERNMENT
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