Wes Streeting announces major delays to Tories’ ‘fictional’ NHS hospital scheme – see full list

Boris Johnson first made the pledge to build ’40 new hospitals’ by 2030 – but it later emerged that some of the ‘new’ hospitals were just refurbishments and new wings

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced major delays to fix crumbling NHS hospitals across the country.

Boris Johnson made the pledge to build “40 new hospitals” by 2030 in the 2019 manifesto but it later emerged that some of the “new” hospitals were just refurbishments and new wings. Rishi Sunak doubled down on the pledge ahead of the 2024 general election.

But speaking in the Commons on Monday, Mr Steering announced delays to the timetable, with work on some hospitals not beginning for over a decade. After a review of the project, he told MPs construction on seven hospital sites would begin in the next five years while nine would begin between 2030-2035.

Construction work on a further nine sites – including St Mary’s Hospital in London, Charing Cross Hospital and the Royal Preston Hospital – will not begin until 2035-2039.

Mr Streeting said the Tory plans were a “work of fiction”. He added: “I know patients in some parts of the country will be disappointed by this new timetable. They are right to be.

“They were led up the garden path by three Conservative Prime Ministers all promising hospitals with no credible funding plan to deliver them. We will not treat the British people with the same contempt.”

But responding to the announcement, the Lib Dem health spokeswoman, Helen Morgan, accused the government of attempting to “bury bad news” on the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

She said: “The Conservatives shamelessly made promises they never intended to keep to countless communities served by crumbling hospitals. Now this government uses the day of Trump’s inauguration in a shoddy attempt to bury bad news, showing an outrageous disregard for patients.”

She added: “Instead of ducking scrutiny, the Health Secretary needs to publish the full impact assessment of these delays. Patients have a right to know just how at risk they are, and how many more delays they will have to suffer as a result of the government’s decision.”

Schemes already under constructions

Alumhurst Road Children’s Mental Health Unit, Dorset

Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Dorset

St Ann’s Hospital, Dorset

Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester

CEDAR Programme

Oriel Eye Hospital

National Rehabilitation Centre

Start construction between 2025 and 2030

Poole Hospital, Dorset

Derriford Emergency Care Hospital, Plymouth

Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital

Shotley Bridge Community Hospital, Durham

Milton Keynes Hospital

Women and Children’s Hospital, Cornwall

Hillingdon Hospital, north-west London

North Manchester General Hospital

West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn

Leighton Hospital

Airedale General Hospital

Frimley Park Hospital

Brighton 3Ts Hospital

Start construction between 2030 and 2035

Leeds General Infirmary

Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, Sutton

Whipps Cross University Hospital, north-east London

Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow

Watford General Hospital

Leicester General Hospital Royal Infirmary

Kettering General Hospital

Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton

Torbay Hospitalu0009

Start construction between 2035 and 2039

Charing Cross Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital, London

North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple

Royal Lancaster Infirmary

St Mary’s Hospital, north-west London

Royal Preston Hospital

Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital

Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading

Hampshire Hospitals

Eastbourne District General, Conquest Hospital and Bexhill Community Hospital