The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building 40 new hospitals by 2030, announcing £20billion of investment in NHS infrastructure.

Revealing the funding this week, health chiefs also confirmed that work will push ahead on replacing five hospitals constructed mostly using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Airedale Hospital in West Yorkshire, Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn in Norfolk, Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire, Leighton Hospital in Cheshire, and Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey all have significant amounts of RAAC – a lightweight type of concrete used to construct parts of the NHS estate in the past, but which has a limited lifespan, after which it deteriorates significantly and can make buildings unsafe.

And the NHS has asked the Government to prioritise the rebuilding of these hospitals given the risks they pose to patients and staff.

Rising costs

Two of the worst-affected hospitals – West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and James Paget Hospital in Norfolk – have already been announced as part of the New Hospital Programme.

However, as a result of this reprioritisation, as well as the rising cost of construction materials, the Government has admitted that up to eight schemes originally due to be constructed by the 2030 will now be completed later.

But in a statement, ministers said they remained committed to delivering ‘all hospitals within the programme as soon as possible’ and ‘will ensure all schemes have adequate funding’.

Going forward, new schemes will be considered through a rolling programme of capital investment in hospital infrastructure to secure the building of new hospitals beyond 2030

And they said they were on track to deliver the manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals in England by 2030, because in addition to the five RAAC hospitals, three mental health hospitals will also be delivered through wider capital funding, as part of a commitment to eradicate dormitory accommodation from mental health facilities across the country.

And two hospitals in the New Hospital Programme are already complete and five are under 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.

“On top of this I’m strengthening our New Hospital Programme by today confirming that it is expected to represent more than £20billion of new investment in hospital infrastructure.

“As we approach the 75th anniversary of our fantastic NHS, this extra investment will ensure it can care for patients for decades to come and help cut waiting lists so they get the treatment they need quicker.

Value for money

“Going forward, new schemes will be considered through a rolling programme of capital investment in hospital infrastructure to secure the building of new hospitals beyond 2030.

“It will mean further future investment to upgrade NHS facilities across the country, with details to be agreed periodically to provide greater future certainty, and will allow more than 40 new hospitals to be built in the longer term.

“By developing a national approach to delivering new hospitals, they can be built more quickly and at a reduced cost, providing value for taxpayers. 

“And patients and staff will benefit from modern hospital design making use of the latest technology, digital innovation, and sustainability to improve overall patient experience and provide a better working environment for staff.

“The Government remains committed to eradicating RAAC from the wider NHS estate by 2035 and has already allocated £685m in immediate support to affected trusts to help keep patients and staff safe.

Through standardisation, the use of modern methods of construction, and a new approach to capital project delivery, the programme is drawing upon best practice to enhance delivery, value for money, and ultimately improve the patient and workforce experience, creating sustainable infrastructure which will shape the future of healthcare delivery in the UK

Health Minister, Lord Markham, added: “We are investing in new NHS facilities across the country, giving patients the certainty they can access world-leading care in state-of-the-art hospitals, both now and in the years to come.

“In the immediate term, we are focusing on quickly and safely rebuilding hospitals in areas which need it most – specifically those affected by this specific type of concrete, which poses a significant risk to patients and staff if not rebuilt by 2030 – with over £20billion expected to be invested in new hospital infrastructure.

Standardised design

“In the long term, our new standardised design means we can rapidly replicate new hospitals across the country, helping speed up construction and improving services for patients faster.”

And senior responsible owner of the New Hospital Programme, Natalie Forrest, said: “This is a significant milestone for the New Hospital Programme, as we continue to progress with delivering facilities for staff and patients at the cutting edge of modern technology with the experience of those who will use these hospitals at the heart of our focus.

“We’re continuing to build healthcare infrastructure that improves patient care – including modern designs, creating single rooms ensuring maximum natural light and access to outdoor spaces. 

“This new design will reduce the workload of NHS staff through digital solutions, well-designed flow, and designated areas for staff recuperation.

“I look forward to continuing to work with all trusts already in the programme and welcoming the new ones into the New Hospital Programme.”

The news has also been welcomed by architects and contractors.

It is imperative that stakeholders in industry continue to work in partnership with the NHS to identify and deliver approaches which can provide immediate improvements to the way care is delivered and improve the environments for patients, visitors, and staff

Speaking to hdm, Victoria Head, Archus’s director of commercial and performance, said: “The announcement is a welcome financial commitment to improving the infrastructure of the NHS estate at a time of great challenge for many NHS trusts. 

“Through standardisation, the use of modern methods of construction, and a new approach to capital project delivery, the programme is drawing upon best practice to enhance delivery, value for money, and ultimately improve the patient and workforce experience, creating sustainable infrastructure which will shape the future of healthcare delivery in the UK.

Evolution, not revolution

“Archus is pleased to be supporting a number of schemes which have been announced as part of the programme, including Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where we are providing expert programme management services to support the progression of these transformative hospital developments.”

But, she added: “We should recognise that even if all 40 hospitals are successfully built, this will still not address the level of investment required in the estate to adequately reduce the serious and significant risk that exists in the short term. 

“At the same time, healthcare continues to see rising demand for its services and rapidly widening health inequalities.

“It is imperative that stakeholders in industry continue to work in partnership with the NHS to identify and deliver approaches which can provide immediate improvements to the way care is delivered and improve the environments for patients, visitors, and staff.

“Importantly, we should see this as an evolution, rather than a revolution, where we continue to learn and innovate for the sake of better patient outcomes. 

“The responsibility is now too great on all of us to implement the most-effective change approaches that aid improvements and benefits for the population. “