Government to miss 40 new hospitals target as it expands definition of ‘new’ – watchdog

The National Audit Office (NAO) has said the government is unlikely to reach its target of building 40 new hospitals by 2030.

The spending watchdog said in a report that the project had been beset by delays. It warned that cost-cutting and inaccurate modelling of future demand could mean new hospitals are too small. 

The health department remained “firmly committed” to delivering the England building pledge, a spokesperson said. Whilst the Labour Party called the report “daming.” 

The hospital pledge was part of the 2019 Tory election manifesto and was made policy the following year.

When the government was set out in October 2020, eight hospital construction projects already under way were not included in the target. But recent government statements about building 40 new hospitals include these eight projects, referred to as “legacy hospitals”.

In May the government changed the pledge to include hospitals in need of urgent repairs, including five judged to be at risk of collapse. 

The report has analysed the plans and found that the target set out in 2020 will be missed, and only 32 will be built in time.