Prioritising patient and staff safety in the NHS (4 October 2022)

Summary

In this blog, Saffron Cordery, Interim Chief Executive at NHS Providers, examines progress on the Government's manifesto pledge to build 40 new hospitals in England by 2030. Known as the New Hospital Programme (NHP), many of these projects are facing serious delays, with seven of the 40 not yet having a completion date. In a recent survey by NHS Providers, nearly two in three leaders said delays to the programme affected their ability to deliver safe and effective patient care, with all those facing delays reporting cost implications. Saffron highlights the opportunity the NHP presents to boost healthcare and renew services, and argues that the impact on communities will be huge if the new hospital plans are scrapped.