Following the statement by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves yesterday (July 29), the Government is being urged to keep its manifesto pledge to deliver the New Hospital Programme (NHP).
Commenting on the announcement that there would be a full review of the programme, which is supposed to deliver 40 new hospitals in England by 2030, but has been beset by delay, uncertainty and questions over funding, Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers says: “It is vital that the review happens in a timely way so that Trusts get the clarity and certainty they desperately need.”
In May last year, the seven hospitals constructed either in part or wholly from RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) were brought into the NHP (two were already in the programme, the other five were added), following an independent assessment that concluded these hospitals are not safe to operate beyond 2030.
Pay review acceptance welcomed
The Chancellor also confirmed that the Government will accept in full the pay review body advice on NHS salaries, which means a 5.5% wage rise for all NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts in England for 2024/25. This announcement was welcomed, as an essential step towards tackling staff shortages across the healthcare system, however, Saffron Cordery points out that the detail of this announcement is not yet clear. “The Government must work to ensure that the cost of meeting any above inflation pay awards is not passed on to frontline services,” she adds.
