Fresh doubt over Queen Elizabeth and James Paget rebuilds

During a commons debate brought by Norwich South MP Clive Lewis, Karin Smyth was quizzed about the proposed rebuilds of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston.

Both sites were built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and earmarked for rebuilds under the previous Conservative government as they approach the end of their lifespans. 

However, the projects were left in limbo following new Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves' announcement that the new hospital rebuilds programme was under review.

Minister of state for secondary care Karin Smyth (Image: PA)

Introduced by then prime minister Boris Johnson in 2020, the Tory programme promised to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, including the Paget. The QEH was later added to a revision of the scheme.

Mrs Smyth has now cast further doubt over the scheme.

She said: "We are all in no doubt about the inheritance we have received from the last government and the state of our hospital estates.

"Each trust has invested significant levels of NHS capital into mitigating any safety risks and the safety of our patients must always come first.

"It is clear that the promise to deliver 40 hospitals by 2030 was not achievable and did not have the funding required to deliver it and that is why we are reviewing it.

Props holding up the roof of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn (Image: Chris Bishop)

"We will be honest with the British public and will update them on the next steps [in the project] as soon as we can."

Jerome Mayhew, Tory MP for Broadland and Fakenham, was among those in the debate to highlight the need for the rebuild schemes to go ahead.

He said: "I am very, very concerned to hear the funding is under review."