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 be exempt from the review.
Hinchingbrooke Hospital has RAAC in 75 per cent of its current building.
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.”
- Recommended Reading: Ben Obese-Jecty receives confirmation Hinchingbrooke Hospital will be rebuilt
- Recommended Reading: Dentist relocates in Hunts town hoping to expand NHS availability
It has been decided 21 of the 46 schemes listed under the New Hospital Programme are out of scope and work on their rebuilds will continue.
Hannah Coffey is the Chief Executive Officer of the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital.
She said: "This is excellent news for our patients and staff as it enables us to eradicate RAAC from our hospital site for good.
"We are incredibly fortunate to be able to forge ahead with our build programme and we are excited to be able to provide a hospital that will meet the needs of our future patients for many decades to come."
Mr Streeting 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.
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.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here