Lib Dems plan to amend King's Speech with New Hospitals Bill as Trusts left with no money

EMBARGO: 22:30 TUESDAY 7th NOVEMBER 

• FOIs reveal Trusts due to build new hospitals have been transferred no money, or just 10% worth of projected cost 

• Liberal Democrats to table amendment to King’s Speech making 2030 deadline of 40 new hospitals a legally binding target

• No mention of new hospitals in the King’s Speech despite wards left crumbling

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey is tabling an amendment to the King’s Speech to introduce a "Hospital Construction and Repairs Bill". The Bill would force the Conservative government to deliver on their 2019 manifesto pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, by creating a legally binding target date. 

NHS Trusts up and down the country have either yet to receive funding, or have received less than 10% of the projected costs to build new hospitals, a Liberal Democrat Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The new revelations follow figures which show the repair backlog in NHS Hospitals is now over £10 billion. 

The Liberal Democrats have now secured data from 19 NHS trusts which were promised a new hospital.

Trusts which are yet to receive any funding include Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts and the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. 

Meanwhile, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, and Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Trust have all received less than a tenth of their outstanding project costs.

The new findings follow Liberal Democrat research earlier this year that found that just a quarter of the government’s 40 new hospitals have received planning permission. This has put their manifesto promise of “40 New Hospitals built by 2030” in jeopardy. 

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 

“The Conservative manifesto was not worth the paper it was written on and the latest King’s Speech is yet further proof. Rishi Sunak is on course to break the Conservatives flagship NHS promise. 

“NHS Trusts have been left without any funding whatsoever as the walls fall around them. This is a national scandal.

“Ministers must introduce a "Hospital Construction and Repairs Bill" to finally make good on their new hospitals promise and ensure patients and staff are safe.

“We are left with hospital wards being drenched in sewage, becoming roasting infernos in heat waves, and more often than not, becoming overcrowded and in unacceptable condition. This isn’t good enough. 

“If Conservative MPs are so adamant about keeping their promises to the NHS, then they should vote for my new Bill.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The FOI data from the NHS Trusts which responded can be found here

Individual FOI responses can be found here 

The estimated cost of the project is based on the figure we have been provided by the trusts. The figures are the most recently available estimate, including figures both before and after outline business cases and figures assessed at SOC. 

The amount of money transferred from the government includes money that has been given by the Government or the NHS to begin building the hospital. It does not include money that is promised.