The Government has added five major hospitals to its £20bn New Hospital Programme due to weak RAAC infrastructure, which could cause collapse
The Government is committed to rebuilding these five hospitals by 2030.
The five hospitals were built using RAAC, which is known to have a limited lifespan. The NHS has asked the Government to prioritise these buildings due to the risk that they pose to patients and staff.
As part of a commitment to eradicate RAAC from the wider NHS estate by 2035, £685m has been allocated in immediate support.
The five hospitals prioritised under the New Hospital Programme are:
- Airedale in West Yorkshire
- Queen Elizabeth King’s Lynn in Norfolk
- Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire
- Mid Cheshire Leighton in Cheshire
- Frimley Park in Surrey
These five hospitals are part of the Government’s manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030.
Two hospitals in the New Hospital Programme are already complete, and five are in construction. By the end of next year, more than 20 will be underway or complete.
Health and Social Care secretary, Steve Barclay, said: “These five hospitals are in pressing need of repair and are being prioritised so patients and staff can benefit from major new hospital buildings, equipped with the latest technology.”
The New Hospital Programme so far
- Two hospitals are now open to patients (Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Royal Liverpool Hospital)
- Five further hospitals are under construction, including:
Midland Metropolitan Hospital, Northgate Hospital, Greater Manchester Major Trauma Hospital, 3Ts Hospital & Bath Cancer Hospital
