Government set to fail target of 40 new promised hospitals by 2030, watchdog says

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Using the original definition, the NAO found that changes to the programme announced by DHSC in earlier this year mean that by 2030 the government expects to complete the following: – 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 RAAC, and which were announced in May 2023 – Three new mental health hospitals, which were approved, and will be managed, outside of NHP. Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at The King’s Fund think tank, said the report showed the government had missed “several opportunities to give its flagship hospital building programme the resources and momentum it deserved.” “New hospitals that should have been built under the national programme have been delayed and this has only increased the overall cost to taxpayers,” he said. Meanwhile, patients are being treated in outdated, crumbling hospitals.” Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “This utterly damning report demolishes the government’s claims to be building 40 ‘new hospitals’. Steve Barclay must come to Parliament immediately and respond to the findings of this report.” Despite the report’s findings, a DHSC spokesperson said: “The NAO’s report acknowledges that despite changes to the original programme, 40 new hospitals are still expected to be delivered by 2030 and praises the programme’s innovative plans to standardise hospital construction, deliver efficiencies and improve quality.