BASINGSTOKE’S new MP said he ‘welcomes’ a decision to review the New Hospital Programme and has reassured that the Labour government is ‘fully committed’ to building a new hospital for the town.

As previously reported, health secretary Wes Streeting said the previous Conservative government’s repeated commitment to rebuild hospitals in marginal constituencies by 2030 was a “cruel and cynical ploy” which gave people “false hope”.

He vowed to find the truth on the promise to build 40 new hospital, including in Basingstoke, and ordered an ‘urgent review’.

SEE ALSO: Promises over new hospitals were 'cruel ploy' says health secretary

(Image: Luke Murphy)

New Basingstoke Labour MP Luke Murphy said he is meeting Mr Streeting in the coming weeks regarding a new hospital for the town.

He added: “I welcome the Health Secretary's decision to urgently review the Tories so called ‘new hospital programme’, the supposed funding and timetable for which was nothing short of a cynical ploy.

“After years of being misled by the Conservatives, I'm pleased the new Labour government is getting on top of it.

“I and the new Labour government are fully committed to the new hospital for Basingstoke - what we need now is an honest and realistic timetable for its delivery.

“Patients and staff have been let down for too long - I will be meeting with the Health Secretary in the coming weeks to discuss the review and ensure we get a realistic and honest timeline for when Basingstoke can finally expect the delivery of its new hospital.”

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.

READ MORE: Build Our Hospital campaign 

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 has said it is “painfully clear” that the previous government’s commitment to rebuild hospitals in marginal constituencies by 2030 was a “cruel and cynical ploy”.

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.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is to announce on Monday a delay to a number of “unfunded” hospital projects as part of the Treasury’s anticipated plans to plug a reported £20bn hole in spending left by the Conservatives. 

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.”