Tories will break flagship vow to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, warns watchdog
A watchdog has issued a scathing verdict on the Tories’ flagship hospital-building programme.
The Conservatives pledged at the 2019 general election to build 40 “new hospitals” by 2030.
But it has since emerged many of the schemes will be upgrades, renovations or new wings added to existing hospitals.
A Whitehall spending watchdog said the New Hospital Programme (NHP) “has experienced delays and is expected to deliver 32 of the intended target of 40 new hospitals by 2030”.
Just 11 of the 32 schemes are actually “new” hospitals, according to the National Audit Office.
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“DHSC (the Department of Health and Social Care) has adopted a broad definition of a ‘new hospital', including: completely new hospitals; complete rebuilds of existing hospitals; major new buildings at existing sites; and major refurbishments of existing buildings,” it said.
It has since emerged many of the schemes will be upgrades, renovations or new wings added to existing hospitals (PA)In October 2020, the Government said 32 of the schemes under NHP would count towards the 40 new hospitals commitment.
Eight other projects were already either "in build" or "pending final approval".
Using the original definition, the NAO found changes to the programme announced by DHSC earlier this year mean that by 2030 the Government expects to complete eight pre-existing schemes within NHP, which do not count under the original definition and date back as far as 2010; 24 new hospitals already within NHP; five new hospitals that will replace hospitals that were built using a form of concrete now considered dangerous, and which were announced in May 2023; and three new mental health hospitals, which were approved, and will be managed outside of NHP.
“Government has not achieved good value for money with NHP so far,” warned the NAO.
“NHP had spent £1.1billion by March 2023.
“Progress has been slower than expected on individual schemes and central activities, including developing Hospital 2.0.
“It can improve value for money through to 2030 but needs to manage substantial risks, including the risk of building hospitals that are too small and rising costs resulting from hospitals being built simultaneously.”
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "This shocking report could not be more damning of the failing New Hospitals Programme.
“The so-called 40 new hospitals are over-budget, behind schedule, and may be too small.
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“Many are not ‘new’, others are not ‘hospitals’, and there aren’t 40 of them.
“In fact, just one hospital is on track to be built by the next election.”
Lib Dem health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said: “This utterly damning report demolishes the Government’s claims to be building 40 'new hospitals.'
“People are fed up with the Conservatives repeating empty promises and slogans, while patients are treated in crumbling hospital buildings in urgent need of repair.”
Despite the report's findings, a Department of Health spokesman insisted: "The NAO's report acknowledges that despite changes to the original programme, 40 new hospitals are still expected to be delivered by 2030 and praises the programme's innovative plans to standardise hospital construction, deliver efficiencies and improve quality.
"We remain firmly committed to delivering these hospitals, which are now expected to be backed by over £20billion of investment, helping to cut waiting lists so people can get the treatment they need quicker.
"Three new hospitals have already opened and more will open this year so patients and staff can benefit from major new hospital buildings, equipped with the latest technology."
Speaking at a school in London, Rishi Sunak insisted the Government would meet its target of building 40 new hospitals by 2030 despite a critical report by the public spending watchdog.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisted the pledge would be met (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)"I think we will deliver 40 hospitals by 2030 as we committed to do," claimed the Prime Minister. "I think if you look at the report, they do say we actually will deliver 40 hospitals by 2030. But that's just one of the many things that we're doing for the health service."
That included the investment of "record sums", the creation of community diagnostic centres and the long-term workforce plan for the NHS, he said. He added: "These are all ways that we're backing the NHS, cutting waiting lists, and 40 hospitals by 2030 is just one of the many parts of it."
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