Matt Hancock gave the go-ahead for the renovation of Shotley Bridge Hospital when he was Secretary of Health. Credit: Steve Parsons/PA
A hospital in the marginal Red Wall constituency was added to the state's hospital program after Matt Hancock met with a local Conservative MP.
In 2020, ministers unveiled the New hospitals to fix the «collapsing» state of the NHS and promised 40 new buildings by 2030.
Shotley Bridge Hospital in Durham was not on the original list of sites selected for the national program, which was to be focused on those most in need.
But after Mr. Hancock, then Secretary of Health, met with a member Parliament by Richard Holden, Boris Johnson's former media adviser, in September 2020, the hospital was added to the list without explanation, according to the Health Service Journal. out of 55 nationwide, which also did not include Shotley Bridge.
Due to delays
This hospital will be only the second £50 million construction of 40 new hospitals, but the program is being delayed due to delays.
The National Audit Office said the Ministry of Health's «documentation failure» meant that it cannot determine how the schemes for this significant investment were chosen.
Mr Holden became the first Conservative MP for Durham North West in 2019 with a majority of 1,100 in the Red Wall site.
Mr Holden said he was «proud to have succeeded in this important campaign.»
“Overcoming years of constant decline by securing the new Shotley Bridge Community Hospital was my top priority even before I was elected,” he said.
«In addition to leading a popular grassroots campaign locally, I have addressed ministers by mentioning it in the House of Commons 24 times since 2019, as well as securing my own debate in Parliament.»
Shotley Bridge Hospital
In 2022, Boris Johnson told the House of Commons he was «delighted» to confirm the restoration of Shotley Bridge and «congratulated» Holden on his campaign.
Hospitals suggested by the NHS but not listed include Evelyn London Children's Hospital, Countess of Chester Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital, Royal Doncaster Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital.
Following the announcement of Shotley Bridge's closure to the list of hospitals receiving investment, Mr. Hancock provided a «personal update» to voters in which he said he was «absolutely delighted… that we are going to replace Shotley Bridge Hospital.»
In a video message, he said: “I want to pay tribute to Rick Holden, the new MP who has worked so hard since December to make this happen. He invited me last month and I saw the plans. I think it's very exciting and I think it's very, very important that we build this hospital and I'm glad I can confirm the funding today.» Wes Streeting, Labor Shadow Health Minister, said: «Voters in Durham see this as yet another example of conservatives overpromising and failing to deliver. Patients across the rest of England will see the Conservatives once again putting the party ahead of the country.»
Conservative MP for Durham North West Richard Holden Credit & Copyright: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images Europe
In a program progress report released last month, the National Audit Office said an initial list of 32 hospitals agreed with support NHS England in 2019, was «based on evidence» but that «the list was later substantially adjusted, removing seven shortlisted hospitals». diagrams and replace them with 14 others.
The monitor's report added: «Officers told us that the final selection of schemes involved choices and judgments for which there is no further documentation.
>»Given the amount of taxpayer money, this is a record keeping error and means we we cannot determine how the schemes for this significant investment were chosen.»
Matt Hancock's spokesman said: «What's wrong is that the Minister of Health wants to build hospitals and MPs are fighting for their constituents to build a new hospital in your constituency?”
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Welfare said: “The original NHS England long list was used as the basis for evaluating the schemes that will be part of the New Hospital programme. Shotley Bridge Hospital was added following an evaluation that found it met long-standing selection criteria including clinical need and service in progress.»
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