The new Hinchingbrooke Hospital project will continue and is not affected by a review of the New Hospitals Programme, the health secretary has confirmed.
Wes Streeting officially announced today (Friday) that the new hospital falls out of scope for review and will still be built despite concerns over public finances.
He also confirmed hospitals with approved Full Business Cases and those “wholly or mostly constructed of [the reinforced concrete] RAAC” will not qualify for the review.
Mr Streeting said: “We inherited a New Hospital Programme that is undeliverable and unfunded. We will be honest with patients and will put the programme on a sustainable footing.
“Patient safety is our priority, so RAAC-affected hospitals, alongside those where the Full Business Cases is already approved, will not form part of the review and will continue as planned.”
“This, alongside the fundamental reforms that will be introduced in our 10-year plan, will ensure we build an NHS that is fit for the future.”
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It has been decided 21 of the 26 schemes listed under the New Hospital Programme are out of scope and work on their rebuilds will continue.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a major review into scheme over the summer when he described the previous administration’s proposals to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 as “unfunded and set to a fictional timeline”.
The review was later confirmed by the Chancellor in a speech to Parliament.
The outcome of the 25 remaining schemes that are in scope for review will be confirmed as part of the government’s ongoing analysis on public spending.
The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for comment.
In May 2023, the then health secretary and North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay included Hinchingbrooke Hospital in the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
Over the summer, the team behind Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s rebuild held a series of public events to showcase its vision for the site.
Planning permission is also still required for the build to go ahead.
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