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General election 2019: How many 'new' NHS hospitals are Conservatives building? General election 2019: How many 'new' NHS hospitals are Conservatives building?
(32 minutes later)
The Conservatives have repeatedly pledged to build 40 new NHS hospitals.The Conservatives have repeatedly pledged to build 40 new NHS hospitals.
The party's manifesto says: "We are proud... to have begun work on building 40 new hospitals across the country."The party's manifesto says: "We are proud... to have begun work on building 40 new hospitals across the country."
"We will build and fund" them, it adds, "over the next 10 years.""We will build and fund" them, it adds, "over the next 10 years."
The pledge has been questioned throughout the election campaign. Is it certain that all 40 will be built? Will they be creating new beds and additional capacity or just replacing existing facilities?The pledge has been questioned throughout the election campaign. Is it certain that all 40 will be built? Will they be creating new beds and additional capacity or just replacing existing facilities?
Will they, as some critics suggest, just be reconfigurations or refurbishments of existing sites? Or are they completely new hospitals?Will they, as some critics suggest, just be reconfigurations or refurbishments of existing sites? Or are they completely new hospitals?
Initially, 34 of the 40 will share just £100m - to start developing plans.Initially, 34 of the 40 will share just £100m - to start developing plans.
And that leaves a £2.7bn investment over five years for the remaining six hospitals:And that leaves a £2.7bn investment over five years for the remaining six hospitals:
But how many of them will be new?But how many of them will be new?
Leeds General InfirmaryLeeds General Infirmary
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust is being given funding towards a major building project. The £650m development will sit on the current site of Leeds General Infirmary.Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust is being given funding towards a major building project. The £650m development will sit on the current site of Leeds General Infirmary.
A previous bid of £410m was declined in early 2019 under an existing NHS scheme, according to an analysis by the Health Service Journal (HSJ).A previous bid of £410m was declined in early 2019 under an existing NHS scheme, according to an analysis by the Health Service Journal (HSJ).
It is planning to move out of the older buildings and to keep one modern building. Then the plan is to construct "two state-of-the-art new hospital buildings" - one for adult services and one for children's care. The outline planning documents say this would "consolidate and centralise" their services.It is planning to move out of the older buildings and to keep one modern building. Then the plan is to construct "two state-of-the-art new hospital buildings" - one for adult services and one for children's care. The outline planning documents say this would "consolidate and centralise" their services.
Whipps Cross Hospital, LondonWhipps Cross Hospital, London
Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, is also proposing a major building project, described as "a new hospital with a full range of acute health services ... built on a fraction of the land now occupied."Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, is also proposing a major building project, described as "a new hospital with a full range of acute health services ... built on a fraction of the land now occupied."
It has told the BBC that it does not know the final amount it is getting from the government. A previous bid of £343m was declined in early 2019 under an existing NHS scheme, according to an analysis by the HSJ.It has told the BBC that it does not know the final amount it is getting from the government. A previous bid of £343m was declined in early 2019 under an existing NHS scheme, according to an analysis by the HSJ.
The current plan for Whipps Cross, says that "using the site for homes could release funding to support the building of a new hospital, but the money raised would be nowhere near enough to pay for a new hospital."The current plan for Whipps Cross, says that "using the site for homes could release funding to support the building of a new hospital, but the money raised would be nowhere near enough to pay for a new hospital."
Princess Alexandra Hospital, HarlowPrincess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow
The trust says it is going "to rebuild a new hospital", so is that rebuilding or a new hospital?The trust says it is going "to rebuild a new hospital", so is that rebuilding or a new hospital?
The trust says the plan is for a new hospital as that is what the government has told them. It says, however, it does not know whether this is a whole new hospital to house all its current services, or a new facility for some of its services.The trust says the plan is for a new hospital as that is what the government has told them. It says, however, it does not know whether this is a whole new hospital to house all its current services, or a new facility for some of its services.
"The details around the funding and the timeframe are being finalised and we are completing our full business case," according to the hospital's Chief Executive. "The details around the funding and the timeframe are being finalised and we are completing our full business case," according to the hospital's chief executive.
Epsom and St Helier Universities TrustEpsom and St Helier Universities Trust
The Trust describes its plans as both a facility and a hospital. It is in line for "hundreds of millions of pounds" to consolidate acute care in a new £500m project on one of its current sites, merging the two A&E services which it is currently struggling to staff.The Trust describes its plans as both a facility and a hospital. It is in line for "hundreds of millions of pounds" to consolidate acute care in a new £500m project on one of its current sites, merging the two A&E services which it is currently struggling to staff.
The BBC was told 85% of the existing services would remain in the same place. The new building will be located at one of the three current sites - in Epsom, Sutton or St Helier.The BBC was told 85% of the existing services would remain in the same place. The new building will be located at one of the three current sites - in Epsom, Sutton or St Helier.
University Hospitals of LeicesterUniversity Hospitals of Leicester
The trust says it has been allocated £450m to fund a refurbishment with possible extensions of existing buildings. It will upgrade facilities at its three sites, including: maternity and children's services at Leicester Royal Infirmary; and a "treatment centre" for planned operations at the Glenfield site.The trust says it has been allocated £450m to fund a refurbishment with possible extensions of existing buildings. It will upgrade facilities at its three sites, including: maternity and children's services at Leicester Royal Infirmary; and a "treatment centre" for planned operations at the Glenfield site.
West Hertfordshire HospitalsWest Hertfordshire Hospitals
The trust says it is being given £400m by the government to "redevelop its buildings and facilities," - this means refurbishment, with a small amount of new building.The trust says it is being given £400m by the government to "redevelop its buildings and facilities," - this means refurbishment, with a small amount of new building.
But there's been a big row about the fact that this is not a new hospital. Local campaign groups have been fighting for a new hospital for years, claiming that proposals don't meet the future needs of the wider West Hertfordshire area.But there's been a big row about the fact that this is not a new hospital. Local campaign groups have been fighting for a new hospital for years, claiming that proposals don't meet the future needs of the wider West Hertfordshire area.
One of them, the New Hospital Campaign, has recently taken the trust to court to challenge its plans for refurbishment of existing buildings. They have crowdfunded enough to take the matter to a judicial review, for which they have been granted permission. One of them, the New Hospital Campaign, has recently taken the trust to court to challenge its plans for refurbishment of existing buildings. It has crowdfunded enough to take the matter to a judicial review, for which it has been granted permission.
New hospitals or not?New hospitals or not?
We contacted the Conservatives for more detail about the status of these six hospitals. A party spokesman told us: "Some will be whole new hospitals and some will be whole new rebuilds."We contacted the Conservatives for more detail about the status of these six hospitals. A party spokesman told us: "Some will be whole new hospitals and some will be whole new rebuilds."
The overall plan to deliver 40 new hospitals is actually a 10- to 15-year project, he added.The overall plan to deliver 40 new hospitals is actually a 10- to 15-year project, he added.
But Siva Anandaciva, chief policy analyst at the health think-tank, the King's Fund says: "The phrase "six new hospitals" might suggest the NHS will see its stock of hospitals grow with six brand new, fully staffed hospitals that offer a full range of services. But Siva Anandaciva, chief policy analyst at the health think-tank, the King's Fund says: "The phrase 'six new hospitals' might suggest the NHS will see its stock of hospitals grow with six brand new, fully staffed hospitals that offer a full range of services.
But - in reality - the promised investment is likely to pay for new facilities on existing hospital sites and the redeployment of existing staff. "But - in reality - the promised investment is likely to pay for new facilities on existing hospital sites and the redeployment of existing staff."
What about the other 34 hospitals?What about the other 34 hospitals?
Some of the hospitals sharing the £100m seed funding to develop plans have been exploring proposals for a number of years.Some of the hospitals sharing the £100m seed funding to develop plans have been exploring proposals for a number of years.
In the prime minister's own constituency, a master plan for the Hillingdon Hospital site began in October 2015.In the prime minister's own constituency, a master plan for the Hillingdon Hospital site began in October 2015.
Stage one was completed in June 2016 and the preferred option identified as a new facility on a new site at Brunel University.Stage one was completed in June 2016 and the preferred option identified as a new facility on a new site at Brunel University.
University Hospitals of Morecombe Bay Trust - in its Five Year Strategic Plan 2015-20 - outlines a scheme for Royal Lancaster Infirmary that "will allow all clinical activity to be located for the first time into a single modern building on the site, with peripheral buildings vacated and demolished or sold". This has yet to be undertaken.University Hospitals of Morecombe Bay Trust - in its Five Year Strategic Plan 2015-20 - outlines a scheme for Royal Lancaster Infirmary that "will allow all clinical activity to be located for the first time into a single modern building on the site, with peripheral buildings vacated and demolished or sold". This has yet to be undertaken.