THE Government has today confirmed funding and a realistic timetable to deliver 4 major Hospital building projects in the North West as part of the New Hospital Programme (NHP). This credible timeline for delivery will ensure that staff and patients have access to the facilities they desperately need around the country as soon as possible.
It follows a review of the scheme which found that the previous Government's commitment to deliver '40 new Hospitals' by 2030 was behind schedule, unfunded and therefore undeliverable.
In its annual report, published last week, the Infrastructure Projects Authority (IPA) also deemed the previous scheme 'unachievable', rating the programme as red and highlighting major issues including with the schedule and budget. An independent IPA review upgraded the New Hospitals Programme from a red to amber rating last week, thanks to action taken to improve deliverability.
Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary, said:- "The New Hospital Programme we inherited was unfunded and undeliverable. Not a single new hospital was built in the past 5 years, and there was no credible funding plan to build forty in the next 5 years. When I walked into the Department of Health and Social Care, I was told that the funding for the New Hospitals Programme runs out in March. We were determined to put the programme on a firm footing, so we can build the new hospitals our NHS needs. Today we are setting out an honest, funded, and deliverable programme which confirms the construction of four major hospital projects across the North West, including the rebuild of Leighton Hospital in Crewe, a transformation of North Manchester General Hospital, and improvements to the Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary."
The new plan will be backed with £15 billion of new investment over consecutive 5-year waves, averaging £3 billion a year:-
• Wave 0:- Schemes already in construction.
• Wave 1:- Construction to begin between:- 2025 to 2030.
• Wave 2:- Construction to begin between:- 2030 to 2035
• Wave 3:- Construction to begin between after between:- 2035 and 2039.
The schemes in the North West include:-
Wave 1 (construction from:- 2025 to 2030)
- Leighton Hospital.
- North Manchester General Hospital.
Wave 3 (construction from:- 2035 to 2040)
- Royal Lancaster Infirmar..
- Royal Preston Hospital.
Morag Stuart, Chief Programme Officer for the New Hospital Programme, said:- "This announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care provides certainty on the next steps for the New Hospital Programme. We will continue to work with local NHS organisations to deliver improvements to Hospitals across England, including making best use of new technology and improving layouts – and ensure future hospitals are designed to meet the needs of patients and staff."
The New Hospital Programme is just 1 part of the UK Government's wider commitment to transforming the NHS estate. Over £1 billion has been set aside to make inroads into the existing backlog of critical maintenance, repairs and upgrades, while £102 million has been dedicated for upgrades to GP surgeries across England as a 1st step towards transforming the primary care estate.
This refreshed and honest direction for the New Hospital Programme will transform the provision of Hospital healthcare, to build an NHS fit for the future in the North West of England.
