 '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. '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. 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 activi){kind=link}
The Whitehall spending watchdog said the Government’s New Hospital Programme ‘has experienced delays and is expected to deliver 32 of the intended target of 40 new hospitals by 2030’
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”.