Hospital development programme faces NAO scrutiny

The programme was included in the government’s 2019 election manifesto and launched by the prime minister in 2020. The 40 hospitals include four schemes that were already being built, including two schemes, initially financed under the private finance initiative, that had been affected by the collapse of Carillion.

Selection of a further eight bids to be part of the programme, with an emphasis on mental health unit redevelopment, was due in spring, but the government now expects a final decision to be made by the end of the year.

The Department insisted the programme was on track to meet the 2030 target.

It is understood the review will examine the implications of delays on costs, particularly as inflation is rising. The question of whether the new buildings constitute new hospitals is also likely to be addressed. The NAO is expected to report its findings next year.

NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor (pictured) said the service needed more capital to improve its estate and equipment generally, and not just the hospitals in the national programme.

Mr Taylor told Sky News: ‘Several hospitals have major structural problems that makes them dangerous. Overall, we invest about a third less than other similar health systems. That has an impact on efficiency, on productivity, and on patient care. The critical issue here in the health service is to get this capital investment into our system.’