THE new health secretary has said the previous government’s repeated commitment to rebuild hospitals in marginal constituencies by 2030 was a “cruel and cynical ploy” which gave people “false hope”.

Speaking to The Mirror, Wes Streeting has vowed to find the truth on the Conservative’s promise to build 40 new hospitals, including in Basingstoke, and has ordered an ‘urgent review’.

His comments come amid warnings that the new hospital programme is in ‘total shambles’ with construction work yet to even begin at 20 sites, including Basingstoke.

READ MORE: Labour commits to building new Basingstoke hospital during election campaign

However, Caroline Morison, chief strategy officer at NHS Hampshire & Isle of Wight, said the trust was on target, having recently published a review and conducted a consultation. She said a decision-making business case would be published later this year. 

Mr Streeting told The Mirror he will finally give patients the truth on when the promise to build 40 new hospitals will be met.

Basingstoke was promised a new hospital by 2030 as part of the Conservatives 2019 election manifesto.

However, the plans were delayed until 2032 after additional hospitals containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) were added to the programme.

Former Conservative Basingstoke MP Maria Miller – who was voted out at the election after 19 years representing the town - repeatedly said funding of £700m to £900m has been allocated to build a new hospital for Basingstoke.

However, Mr Streeting told the Mirror that it was “painfully clear” that the previous government’s commitment to rebuild hospitals in marginal constituencies by 2030 was a “cruel and cynical ploy”.

SEE ALSO: Just over half in favour of new hospital at Junction 7, consultation finds

He added: “The NHS is broken, and nowhere is that more apparent than in [the] state of some of our crumbling hospitals.”

He has asked officials to report to him about the status of the programme and to give a realistic timetable for delivery before he reports back to patients, clinicians and local communities with the truth about how quickly new hospitals can be built.

There are now 46 schemes in the programme, with just six completed and open. Two more are expected to open in the next year.

Last year, the National Audit Office warned that the target to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 was likely to be missed and also raised concerns that the standardised design for new hospitals was too small.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told the Gazette:  “The NHS is broken, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the state of some of our crumbling hospitals.

“Every community deserves hospitals and healthcare facilities fit for the future. The health secretary has asked for an urgent report on the degree to which the New Hospital Programme is funded and a realistic timetable for delivery.

"He will consider this carefully then report back to patients, clinicians, and local communities to confirm the schedule.”

Hampshire Together – the team behind the new hospital plans - held a public consultation on its proposals to build a new hospital for Basingstoke, the results of which were published this month.

It showed that views were split, with 52 per cent of people in favour of the plans to build a new hospital at Junction 7 of the M3.

Caroline Morison, chief strategy officer at NHS Hampshire & Isle of Wight said: said: “We continue to work to the timescales set by the national New Hospital Programme.

“We have recently published the independent report on the public consultation on the options for how we are proposing to invest the allocated funding for hospital services in Hampshire.  We are grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views during the consultation period earlier this year and are pleased that the consultation reached so many people in our local communities.

“We are now continuing to move towards making a decision regarding the investment in services to improve local health provision for people in Hampshire. We expect to finalise a decision-making business case later this year.”