James Wild MP has written to the Health Secretary seeking urgent reassurance that up to £1.5 billion funding for the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn will not be revised or reduced, following reports that HM Treasury is requiring departments to identify savings from capital budgets to help fund higher defence spending.
He has raised concern that any reduction or reallocation of capital funding could place pressure on major NHS infrastructure schemes within the New Hospital Programme, and particularly the long-awaited new QEH in King’s Lynn.
James said:
“Such reports will understandably cause anxiety among staff, patients, and the wider community who are relying on the delivery of this vital infrastructure, particularly given the ongoing pressures on the existing hospital site linked to RAAC.”
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a Wave 1 scheme under the New Hospital Programme, meaning it is due to be delivered in the first phase of the programme, and ministers have previously confirmed it has been allocated funding of between £1 billion and £1.5 billion.
Enabling work is already underway on the site, including construction of the new multi-storey car park, which will allow the new hospital to be built on the existing site. James said it was important that momentum is maintained given progress already being made:
“It is essential this momentum is maintained and that there is no uncertainty that could risk delays or undermine confidence in the project.”
Concluding, James emphasised the importance of maintaining clarity so that staff, patients and residents can have confidence in the project’s delivery. He said:
“Given the scale and urgency of need at QEH, clarity at the earliest opportunity would be greatly appreciated. I would therefore be grateful if you could confirm there are no plans to revise or reduce capital funding for the New Hospital Programme and, specifically, that the up to £1.5 billion allocation for the QEH in King’s Lynn remains unchanged.”
