Hospital projects in doubt due to spending review

Leeds General Infirmary is part of the New Hospital Programme which was launched by the previous government

A government review of NHS building projects could decide the future of new hospital facilities in West Yorkshire.

Both Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and Keighley's Airedale General Hospital had been earmarked for development under the Conservatives' New Hospital Programme.

But Rachel Reeves, Chancellor and Labour MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, has announced a review of hospital and road projects to plug a £22bn hole in public finances.

Critics have warned of the negative impact the possible delays could have on hospital trust finances and facilities.

On Monday, the chancellor told the House of Commons that not enough funding was available to deliver the Conservatives' 40 hospitals by 2030 pledge.

She said a complete review of the programme was needed "with a thorough, realistic and costed timetable for delivery".

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the total cost to deliver the remaining 37 schemes had been estimated at significantly over £20bn, but only £3.7bn had been allocated up to 24/25.

This comes amid an £11bn maintenance backlog across the wider NHS estate not covered by the programme.

Airedale General Hospital in Keighley was set for a total rebuild under the New Hospital Programme

Under the original plans, LGI was set for a new children’s hospital, an adults’ hospital and maternity centre while a complete rebuild was ordered for Airedale General Hospital.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has already warned that delays to the scheme, for which it has outline planning consent, have brought up to £300m in added costs.

The trust's chief executive, Professor Phil Wood, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We recognise the scale of the challenges facing the NHS and the need for the new government to undertake a review of the national New Hospital Programme.

“Leeds Teaching Hospitals has one of the oldest estates in the NHS, which is not reflective of the world-class healthcare we provide for our patients and much of which at the LGI site is in need of urgent replacement.”

Conservative MP Robbie Moore has criticised the decision to review the programme

Meanwhile, Airedale General Hospital is one of 19 schemes yet to submit an outline business case and one of the seven which were built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).

Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, Robbie Moore, has criticised the decision to review the New Hospital Programme, saying it was risking "needless delays".

He told the BBC he was "furious" the Labour government was using Airedale General Hospital "as part of the chancellor's political spectacle".

He said: “Just days before the general election, the new Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, assured voters in our community that he was committed to rebuilding our new Airedale Hospital.

"Yet the chancellor has shamefully chosen to put our new hospital on hold, threatening the real risk that it may not happen at all."

Mr Moore said he would challenge the review in coming weeks.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said it was unable to comment at this stage.

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