The Government has confirmed plans to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 as part of a £3.7 billion capital pledge, but experts warn the funding does not go far enough and that a more multifaceted approach is required.

The Government last Friday laid out its plan to rejuvenate the NHS estate and build 40 new hospitals by 2030. The build projects come as part of a £3.7 billion NHS capital injection.

The new Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP), launched last September, initially provided investment for six new hospital builds. Four of which are already under construction – including the Midland Metropolitan and Royal Liverpool, both of which faced severe delays following the collapse of Carillion almost three years ago.

The trusts that received seed funding will now all be fully funded to deliver 25 new hospitals. A new hospital in Shotley Bridge is also being added to the programme. New standards and guidelines have been introduced to reform hospital design and streamline construction processes.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We are determined to build back better and deliver the biggest hospital building programme in a generation.

“From Morpeth to Milton Keynes, we are building 40 new hospitals across England to level up our NHS so more people have top-class healthcare services in their local area.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock added: “The biggest hospital building programme in a generation will help protect the NHS long into the future.

Alongside this, as announced last year, 20 hospitals will receive a share of £850 million to upgrade outdated facilities and equipment, with enabling works already beginning at several sites.”

Not far enough?

While the news of additional capital funding has been widely welcomed across the health sector, many experts believe that funding does not go far enough.

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “This money will be welcome news for the NHS, which badly needs more capital funding for new buildings, but while a sizeable amount, it is just the start of what will truly allow hard-working frontline staff to be able to provide the best care possible for patients in the years to come.

“NHS leaders tell us consistently that crumbling buildings and inadequate equipment are holding their staff back; this was felt before the pandemic struck and created monumental and unexpected challenges for our health and care system.”

Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers said that the “big disappointment” of the Government’s new plan was the absence of any meaningful investment in the NHS mental health trust estate.

She said: “Once again, the Government seems to only be focussing on acute hospitals. As a further example of this continuing disparity, the Government has already made two announcements this year allocating vital investment to expanding hospital emergency departments, which has enabled trusts to start this important work. But mental health trusts have still not received the 2020/21 investment they were promised to eliminate inappropriate dormitory ward accommodation.

“If we are serious about treating physical and mental health equally, we need to ensure there is equal investment. Today’s announcement does not give that message.”

List of 40 hospitals

SchemeSiteRegionTrustDetails
In build (4)1. Midland Metropolitan HospitalMidlandsSandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS TrustThe new Midland Metropolitan hospital will bring together urgent care services from 3 hospitals across the region into one state-of-the-art site, promoting better patient safety and care while ensuring value for money.
 2. Cumberland Cancer HospitalNorth East & YorkshireNorth Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustTo establish a modern oncology hospital with the equipment and facilities to comply with national service specifications, transforming cancer care services for patients across North Cumbria.
 3. Royal Liverpool HospitalNorth WestLiverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustDevelopment of a new hospital to replace the current Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
 4. 3Ts Hospital, BrightonSouth EastBrighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS TrustThree-phase building works to deliver a Regional Centre for Teaching, Trauma and Tertiary Care at Royal Sussex County Hospital
Pending Final Approval (4)5. Moorfields Eye HospitalLondonMoorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation TrustA new eye care, research and education facility, Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.
 6. Northgate Hospital, Morpeth, NorthumberlandNorth East & YorkshireCumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Northgate hospital to provide single integrated secure service centre of excellence, and the re-provision of Newcastle and Gateshead adult acute inpatient services at St Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle. Reprovision of Children’s and Young People’s medium secure inpatient services to Ferndene, Prudhoe, Northumberland.
 7. Greater Manchester Major Trauma HospitalNorth WestSalford Royal NHS Foundation TrustTo provide an additional non-elective, high-acuity hospital to support Greater Manchester Major Trauma Service and the transfer of high-acuity surgery.
 8. Defence and National Rehabilitation CentreMidlandsNottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustTo build a national rehabilitation centre at Stanford Hall, near Loughborough.
HIP 1 (6)9. Princess Alexandra Hospital, HarlowEast of EnglandPrincess Alexandra Hospital NHS TrustA new integrated, high-tech healthcare campus to replace the aging Princess Alexandra Hospital.
 10. Watford General HospitalEast of EnglandWest Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS TrustRebuilding Watford General, including women & children’s services.
 11. Whipps Cross University Hospital, North East LondonLondonBarts Health NHS TrustA new hospital at Whipps Cross, providing a range of patient services including emergency and maternity.
 12. Epsom and St Helier University HospitalsLondonEpsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS TrustA new major hospital for Epsom General Hospital and St Helier Hospital.
 13. University Hospitals of LeicesterMidlandsUniversity Hospitals of Leicester NHS TrustRebuild at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Glenfield & new facilities at Leicester General.
 14. Leeds General InfirmaryNorth East & YorkshireLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustCentralising children’s and adult services at LGI with pathology services at St James University Hospital.
HIP 2 (25)15. West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St EdmundsEast of EnglandWest Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustTo rebuild West Suffolk Hospital, replace poor estate and provide a better patient environment at West Suffolk Hospital
 16. East Sussex Healthcare NHS TrustSouth EastEast Sussex Healthcare NHS TrustTo provide a new hospital at Eastbourne; new medical wards and refurbishment at Conquest; new clinical building at Bexhill.
 17. Royal Berkshire Hospital, ReadingSouth EastRoyal Berkshire NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Royal Berkshire to replace ageing estate to tackle significant critical backlog.
 18. Milton Keynes HospitalEast of EnglandMilton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustTo build a new women and children’s hospital at Milton Keynes hospital.
 19. The Hillingdon Hospital, North West LondonLondonHillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Hillingdon Hospital to replace ageing estate to tackle significant critical backlog.
 20. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustSouth EastHampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNew hospital at Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital and major refurbishment at Royal Hampshire Hospital in Winchester.
 21. St Ann’s Hospital, DorsetSouth WestDorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation TrustNew build on existing site for Child and Adult Mental Health Services in Dorset.
 22. North Manchester General HospitalNorth WestManchester University Hospitals Foundation TrustRebuild of North Manchester General Hospital provide new healthcare facilities to replace poor estate and provide better patient environment.
 23. Dorchester Community Hospital, DorsetSouth WestDorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation TrustNew build of Dorchester Community Hospital on site and also to build new ED and ICU. Service model sees better integration of the DGH with GP and community services in a new hospital.
 24. Poole Community Hospital, DorsetSouth WestDorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Poole Community hospital with theatres and sterile services. Part of the ‘One Dorset Estate’ which links acute and community services to reduce pressure.
 25. North Devon District HospitalSouth WestNorthern Devon Healthcare NHS TrustRebuild of North Devon District Hospital to provide new healthcare facilities to replace ageing estate and enable the delivery of new models of care at.
 26. James Paget Hospital , Great YarmouthEast of EnglandJames Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of James Paget Hospital.
 27. Kettering General HospitalMidlandsKettering General Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Kettering General. Options being developed to move to a hot/cold configuration or a single site rebuild.
 28. Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham City HospitalMidlandsNottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustRebuild of both the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital sites.
 29. Royal Preston and Lancaster Royal InfirmaryNorth WestLancashire Teaching Hospitals and University Hospitals of Morecambe BayPlanned replacement of Royal Preston and Lancaster Royal Infirmary, where subject to consultation either a single or two hospitals with appropriate re-provision of 3 community urgent care hubs and 3 out of hospital hubs will result.
 30. Bournemouth Community Hospital, DorsetSouth WestDorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Bournemouth Community Hospital
 31. Musgrove Park Hospital, TauntonSouth WestSomerset NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Musgrove Park Hospital
 32. Torbay District General, TorquaySouth WestTorbay and South Devon NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Torbay Hospital. New smaller acute ‘hot’ hospital, a ‘cold’ elective centre and monies for a collaborative North East South elective centre all underpinned by an EPR system and technology enabled care.
 33. Addenbrookes Cancer hospitalEast of EnglandCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNew cancer hospital at Addenbrookes
 34. Royal United Bath HospitalSouth WestRoyal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation TrustA new Cancer Hospital, completing a programme of phased capital work at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) which has specifically aimed to deliver a new Cancer Hospital, reduce critical areas of organisational risk and improve the quality of the environment for service delivery across the northern part of the Combe Park estate
 35. Cornwall Children’s HospitalSouth WestRoyal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustNew Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the centre of the Royal Cornwall Hospital site in Truro.
 36. Derriford Emergency Care HospitalSouth WestPlymouth Hospitals NHS TrustA new integrated emergency care hospital, bringing all urgent care into one emergency care hospital, with dedicated areas for children and frail patients.
 37. St Mary’s Hospital, LondonLondonImperial College Healthcare NHS TrustRebuild of St Mary’s Paddington
 38. Charing Cross Hospital, LondonLondonImperial College Healthcare NHS TrustRebuild of Hammersmith Hospital, new clinical academic redevelopment near ICL White City Campus, co-located with Imperial College biomedical campus at White City. Major floor-by-floor refurbishment of Charing Cross.
 39. Christchurch Community hospital, DorsetSouth WestDorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation TrustRebuild of Christchurch Community hospital, Implementing. Consolidating services into new community hubs, with associated investment in DGH and mental health care.
1 additional40. Shotley Bridge Hospital, DurhamNorth East & YorkshireCounty DurhamNew hospital including inpatient beds, with unscheduled care, outpatient activity, chemotherapy and diagnostics to replace the existing Shotley Bridge Hospital.
Open competitionCompetition to find 8 further new schemesVariousVariousCompetition for 8 further hospitals including new Mental Health Hospitals