Oris Johnson’s election promise to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is being reviewed by the government’s official spending watchdog.
The National Audit Office (NAO) is planning a “value-for-money review” that could consider raising costs due to spiraling inflation and whether hospitals will actually be new.
The investigation came to light in a letter to the shadow of Health Secretary West Streeting from NAO controller Gareth Davies after the Labor MP warned of a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Mr Streeting has called for an inquiry into delays surrounding the program announced by the Prime Minister in the 2019 general election campaign.
The Labor MP said many NHS trusts are still waiting for funds to be allocated and many are in fact changes or renovations not “new hospitals”.
In the letter first reported by the Observer, Mr Davies responded: “I can confirm that I already have plans to launch a value-for-money review of the New Hospitals program later this year and to to report my findings during 2023.
“I passed on your letter to my Health Value for Money team so that it can consider the specific issues you have raised while developing the scope of the review.
“I take particular note of your comments on the implications of delays for increasing costs in this time of high inflation and the question of whether all projects really meet the classification of ‘new hospitals’.”
The NAO’s work threatens to raise further doubts about Mr. Johnson’s ability to keep his promises as he fights a series of scandals, including party holes and allegations of sexual misconduct made against Tory MPs.
Commenting on the inquiry, Mr Streeting said: “The only place where these ’40 new hospitals’ currently exist is in Boris Johnson’s imagination.
“The promise of the election manifesto now looks like another example of the Conservatives over-promising and subduing.”
The Conservative manifesto clearly stated that they would “build and finance 40 new hospitals over the next 10 years”.
The Department of Health and Social Care insisted: “We are on track to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030.
“We are working closely with the NHS and rely on the development of their building plans. Each of the construction projects will be new hospitals that provide brand new, modern facilities to ensure world-class healthcare for NHS patients and staff by replacing outdated infrastructure. ”