New hospital plans to continue despite NHS review

Airedale hospital serves 220,000 people living in the Bradford and Craven districts

Hospital bosses have said they remain hopeful of opening a brand new facility by 2030 despite the government's plans to review major NHS spending projects.

Airedale Hospital, near Keighley, was built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) and had been earmarked for a complete rebuild under the previous government's New Hospitals Programme.

However, this week the new Labour government announced a review of NHS building projects in order to to save £22bn from the public’s finances.

Responding to the announcement Foluke Ajayi, chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said that while the review was taking place the Trust would continue "working to our construction programme that will see us move into a new hospital by 2030".

'Needless delay'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said a review of the hospital rebuild programme was needed with a "thorough, realistic and costed timetable for delivery".

It has led to fears the Airedale Hospital project could be delayed, scaled back or even scrapped altogether.

The hospital serves 220,000 people living in the Bradford and Craven districts.

Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley Robbie Moore, who campaigned for the rebuild, strongly criticised the government's review and said any delays could put the whole project at risk.

He said he had requested a meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting to challenge the review.

"If the new health secretary is genuinely committed to our new Airedale Hospital, then this review risks needless delay," he said.

"This decision jeopardises the future of health services in our area."

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