2024 Budget: statement on behalf of the Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme
Date posted: 1st November 2024
On 30 October 2024, during the Chancellor’s Budget statement, a brief reference was made to the continuing work of the New Hospital Programme.
On 29 July 2024 the Chancellor announced a review of the New Hospital Programme (NHP) to ensure it had a ‘thorough, realistic and costed timetable for delivery’. Both the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust NHP schemes were confirmed as within the scope of the review, as per the Terms of Reference (opens in new window) published on 20 September 2024. We understand that the review has provided the opportunity to ensure the national New Hospital Programme is on the soundest possible footing for delivery and that the information from the review has been fed into the Spending Review process.
In her Autumn Budget Statement, the Chancellor confirmed that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will set out further details of his review into the New Hospital Programme in the coming weeks, with a publication to follow in the new year. However, it was noted in the published Budget report (opens in new window) that there would be delivery of the New Hospital Programme on a more sustainable and deliverable footing, moving swiftly to rebuild hospitals wholly or primarily built with Reinforced Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (RAAC) or which are in build and that the remaining schemes (such as those for LTHTr and UHMBT) will be delivered through a rolling programme of major investment, as part of the government’s commitment to providing hospital infrastructure investment. The report also confirms increased capital spending for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Whilst the review is taking place, and in the period between the review ending and the outcome being confirmed and communicated, all schemes within the NHP will be supported appropriately to continue to make progress. As soon as we are in a position to communicate anything further, we will do so.