Tory pledge to build 40 hospitals by 2030, under review by National Audit Office on ‘value for money’ issues
- National Audit Office to review Tory’s pledge to build 40 hospitals by 2030
- Comes amid claims that they will not be value for money due to inflation
- West Streeting, Labor MP, has sent a letter warning of wastage of taxpayers’ money
In a move that could be a major embarrassment for the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s election promise to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is being faced by a review by the government’s official spending watchdog.
The National Audit Office (NAO) is planning a ‘value-for-money review’ that may consider raising costs due to spiraling inflation and whether the hospitals will in fact 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’.
Boris Johnson’s election promise to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is being reviewed by the government’s official spending watchdog.
Mr Streeting has called for an inquiry into delays surrounding the program announced by the Prime Minister in the 2019 general election campaign
NAO auditor Gareth Davies has confirmed that he already has plans to launch a value-for-money review of the New Hospitals program later this year and to report his findings during 2023.
Commenting on the inquiry, Mr Streeting said: ‘The only place 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 made it clear that they would ‘build and fund 40 new hospitals over the next 10 years’.
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 have 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 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 made it clear that they would ‘build and fund 40 new hospitals over the next 10 years’.