Labour Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced the New Hospital Programme is being put under immediate review in her spending inheritance address in the House of Commons on Monday 29 July.
The review is due to concerns over significant delays, such as in implementing new designs, funding issues, and construction progress.
As of 2024, the pace of the New Hospital Programme is much slower than expected.
Consequently, with the review, the Labour Government aims to assess the financial and practical feasibility of the plan to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, a key part of the former Conservative government's health strategy.
Labour Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced the New Hospital Programme is being put under immediate review
Further, the review will focus on establishing a realistic and costed timeline to ensure effective delivery of the New Hospital Programme.
The review will also address concerns that many NHS facilities are outdated and in urgent need of repair.
So, what is the timeline?
When contacted for comment, the Department of Health and Social Care told Building Better Healthcare that it will "set out more details on the review shortly."
The Labour government has committed to resetting the Programme, with the goal of providing clarity on funding and progress.
We must reset the New Hospital Programme to put it on a sustainable footing but no decisions have yet been made on the scale
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has asked for an urgent report on the degree to which the New Health Programme is funded, including a realistic timetable for delivery.
Further, the Department of Health and Social Care told Building Better Healthcare that "once the review into the New Hospital Programme is concluded the Secretary of State will update Parliament and set out the next steps for the Programme."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The previous government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is undeliverable and unaffordable and this government is determined to be honest with people about what can be delivered."
The Secretary of State has been clear hospitals with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) are the priority
"We must reset the New Hospital Programme to put it on a sustainable footing but no decisions have yet been made on the scale - but the Secretary of State has been clear hospitals with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) are the priority," the spokesperson added.
"We have launched a full review of the programme to provide a thorough, costed and realistic timeline for delivery and to ensure we can replace the crumbling hospital estate in England," the spokesperson concluded.
NHS England has been contacted for comment, but did not respond.
