Plans for local hospital improvements pushed back by at least a decade

A series of hospital building projects in England face significant delays, with some not commencing for up to 14 years, the government has confirmed. 

Among the affected sites is North Devon District Hospital (NDDH), which will now see construction work postponed until 2035 at the earliest.

The plans, part of a 2019 Conservative election pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, have been deemed unaffordable, according to Health Secretary Wes Streeting. 

On Monday, January 20, the government announced an additional seven projects had been prioritised, with building work slated to begin by 2029.

However, 18 other projects will be delayed further, with construction starting in phases from 2032 and 2035. For some, the timeline could extend as far as 2039.

North Devon MP Ian Roome expressed disappointment at the decision, describing it as a "devastating blow" to the local community. 

Mr Roome, a Liberal Democrat, has been a strong advocate for the redevelopment of NDDH, which he emphasised is critical due to the hospital’s status as mainland England’s most remote district general hospital.

According to Mr Roome. the New Hospital Programme in North Devon already had a delivery partner already on board and was going through final business case approvals. 

In Parliament on the evening of Janaury 20, Mr Roome reiterated the urgency of the situation, highlighting the severe risks posed to patient safety by the delay. 

He also called on Health Ministers to visit North Devon to witness the challenges firsthand; a request Wes Streeting agreed to.

Mr Roome did not hold back in his criticism of the former Conservative government, accusing it of breaking its promise to the nation.

The MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, called it a “devastating decision.”

Mr Roome told the Gazette that he had been campaigning for the funding since first being elected in what Health Secretary Wes Streeting deemed “a dogged pursuit” of health and care investment in North Devon.

Mr Roome said NDDH faces unique challenges as “mainland England’s most remote hospital,” and highlighted the risks posed by the condition of critical infrastructure, particularly in theatres and critical care.

Mr Roome added: “The New Hospital Programme in North Devon already had a delivery partner on board and was going through final business case approvals, so this will be a bitter disappointment to all involved.”

Ian Roome MP also called on the government to release its impact assessment into what the delays to the project would mean for patients in North Devon.

He said: “This is a devastating decision. Patient safety here in North Devon is at risk and we have been desperately let down. We simply can’t wait any longer for North Devon District Hospital to be rescued. The Conservatives broke their word to our community and now this government has kicked the issue into the long grass.”

“The neglect of NDDH will have a ripple effect on the entire Devon healthcare system. Both the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital and Derriford Hospital already face serious pressure on service delivery, and confronting NDDH’s patient load would be catastrophic. It could also translate to the local population having long travel times to the next nearest hospital at our site in Exeter,” he added. 

“The Health Secretary must immediately publish the impact assessment of what the delays to completing North Devon District Hospital will mean for people here in North Devon and how much longer we will have to suffer with not fit for purpose local health services. I will continue fighting for our community day in and day out until we get the commitments we need.”

“I am furious at the former Conservative government for misleading our nation. We were promised transformative change, only to see it discarded and delayed. This is unacceptable, and we will not let it go unchallenged.”

The new timetable set out by the government promises construction to start from 2032 on:

• Leeds General Infirmary
• Sutton Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (London)
• Whipps Cross Hospital (London)
• Princess Alexandra Hospital (London)
• Watford General Hospital
• Leicester General Hospital
• Kettering General Hospital (Northants)
• Musgrove Park Hospital (Somerset)
• Torbay Hospital (Devon)

Then from 2035 on:

• Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals (London)
• North Devon District Hospital
• Royal Lancaster Infirmary
• St Mary's Hospital (London)
• Royal Preston Hospital
• Nottingham City Hospital
• Royal Berkshire Hospital
• Hampshire Hospitals
• Eastbourne District General Hospital (Sussex)