New hospital programme: Local MP calls for Government to end any further delays

CGI showing seven-storey hospital building.
-Credit:Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


Calls have been made for the Government to end any further delays in the building and rebuilding of hospitals. It follows the announcement from Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Monday (January 20) that the New Hospital Programme will be relaunched.

The project involves the construction and rebuilding of several hospitals across the UK. Mr Streeting vowed to "put the programme on a firm footing with sustainable funding so all the projects can be delivered".

The redevelopment of Hinchingbrooke Hospital and construction of Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital were both mentioned in the new programme. Ian Sollom, MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, said that the Government must ensure that there are no further delays and work starts as soon as possible.

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He said: "After years of broken promises from the Conservatives, the NHS is quite literally crumbling, and it is constituents of St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire that are paying the price.

"Having recently visited Hinchingbrooke Hospital, it is clear to see the amazing effort of staff and engineers to keep patients safe, but they cannot possibly continue working under these conditions.

"This Government must not delay the urgent rebuilding, and in fact it must accelerate the timeline. I will continue to hold its feet to the fire until the final brick is laid."

In the announcement, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital were both included as part of Wave One schemes. Mr Streeting said that construction would begin between 2025 and 2030.

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He said: "Wave one schemes will begin construction between 2025 and 2030. These include the seven RAAC hospitals – Leighton Hospital, West Suffolk Hospital, Frimley Park Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, James Paget Hospital and Airedale General Hospital.

"The other wave one schemes are: Poole Hospital, Milton Keynes Hospital, Brighton 3Ts Hospital, Women and Children’s Hospital Cornwall, Derriford Emergency Care Hospital, Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, Shotley Bridge Community Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital and Hillingdon Hospital."

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