The new chief executive of Norfolk's largest hospital has warned it too will suffer if plans to rebuild its crumbling neighbours fail to happen.

New doubt has been cast over the rebuilds of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.

Both sites are constructed of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and are fast approaching the ends of their respective lifespans.

Aerial view of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn. Picture: Mike Page

Both were also included in the Conservative government's new hospitals programme - the Paget as one of the original sites and the QEH in a later revision following a successful campaign.

However, following the general election, new chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a review of the programme is now being carried out by the Labour administration as it looks to offset a £22bn financial black hole in public spending.

But Lesley Dwyer, the new chief executive of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, said the projects were vital to patients of more than just the two sites themselves.

Aerial photograph of the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston (Image: Mike Page)

In her first interview with this newspaper since taking on the role in February, she said: "The projects are clearly very important to us too. 

"If they do not go ahead that will have a huge impact on us and we are strong advocates that Norfolk should have this investment."

She added she was in regular contact with her counterparts at both sites, emphasising the need for the three trusts to work more closely together, irrespective of whether the rebuilds do go ahead.

"There is a review going on and I know that Alice [Webster, QEH chief] and Jo [Segasby, JPH chief] are involved in that but we have got to think in the round about how services are provided in our communities.

"We need to know that if there is a change in the new hospitals programme, what will that mean. for us all."