NHS Hospital Building Programme Faces Decade Long Delays and £22bn Price Tag

The UK government’s ambitious scheme to construct or expand 40 hospitals in England has encountered significant setbacks, with completion dates now stretching into the late 2030s. Health Secretary Wes Streeting revealed on Monday that construction on several facilities might not commence until 2039, delivering a substantial blow to healthcare administrators managing an increasingly deteriorating infrastructure.

The New Hospital Programme, initially unveiled under former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s leadership, had promised delivery of 40 hospitals by 2030, supported by approximately £22 billion in capital funding. The programme’s review by Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which assumed office in July, has unveiled concerning delays attributed to funding constraints.

Streeting’s announcement outlined a four-wave construction approach, with nine schemes not breaking ground until between 2035 and 2039. The revised timeline notably lacks a definitive completion date for the entire programme. The Health Secretary emphasised his department’s commitment to securing sustainable funding for all projects, acknowledging the disappointment this news brings to affected communities.

The programme has faced mounting criticism, with the House of Commons’ public accounts committee highlighting insufficient funding allocation. The National Audit Office’s July 2023 assessment revealed that only 32 of the 40 planned hospitals were on track for scheduled completion. A recent comprehensive NHS review exposed a £37 billion shortfall in health infrastructure investment compared to peer countries since the 2010s, resulting in a maintenance backlog exceeding £13.8 billion.

NHS Providers’ deputy chief executive, Saffron Cordery, expressed serious concerns about the delays, emphasising the critical role of hospital rebuilds in transforming services and enhancing patient care. The situation is particularly pressing for seven hospitals constructed with potentially hazardous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, which remain outside the review’s scope despite safety concerns.

The extended timeline represents a significant departure from the original Conservative government promises, with Streeting criticising previous administrations for making commitments without adequate funding plans. This development raises serious questions about the future of healthcare infrastructure in England and the government’s ability to deliver on its healthcare modernisation pledges.