Hospital will not be rebuilt ahead of 2030 deadline

Polly Grimmett, KGH's director of strategy said there was a plan in place if the government withdrew funding

A town's hospital will not be rebuilt ahead of its 2030 deadline, according to a senior manager.

Polly Grimmett, from Kettering General Hospital (KGH), told councillors that the chancellor is reviewing the previous government's hospital building programme, which included KGH.

She said there was a risk there would be no government funding for the project, but added that the KGH board remained committed to it.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it was "determined to be honest with people about what can be delivered".

The chancellor Rachel Reeves, pictured during a visit to Kettering, said all 40 hospital projects were being reviewed

The £500m Kettering General Hospital scheme was one of 40 promised by the previous Conservative government.

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced a review of the New Hospital Programme in July, and told MPs that "it has become clear that the previous government continued to maintain its commitment to 40 hospitals…without anywhere close to the funding required to deliver them."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the review was set to conclude this Autumn.

Initial work had already started on the rebuild at Kettering General Hospital

Ms Grimmett, the director of strategy at the KGH NHS Foundation Trust, gave an update on Tuesday to North Northamptonshire Council's Health Scrutiny Committee.

She said: “It is worth noting that, originally, when the 40 new hospitals programme was announced, the timeline for completing the schemes was 2030.

“I think I need to announce to this committee that Kettering, certainly not alone, in fact the vast majority of the schemes will not be complete by 2030."

Ms Grimmett added that she was unable to provide a timeline for completion as it depended on the chancellor's review.

She said: "The Kettering Trust Board remains totally committed to those plans.”

When asked what will happen if the government decided to withdraw funding, Ms Grimmett replied: “There is, of course, a risk that that funding won’t materialise.

"It’s really important that Kettering hospital has a plan - we have a plan."

An artist's impress showed the modern-style buildings that were planned for the new hospital

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The previous government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is undeliverable and unaffordable.

"We are therefore launching a full review of the programme to provide a thorough, costed and realistic timeline for delivery and to ensure we can replace the crumbling hospital estate in England.

"This government is determined to be honest with people about what can be delivered, and not let them down again."