Recommendation 5

The Department has been slow to develop the capacity and capability it needs to deliver such a complex programme. The Department’s central programme team for the New Hospital Programme will require significant technical expertise to deliver successfully. Prior to the 2025 reset, the programme had struggled to recruit staff and had become reliant on external contractors. By November 2025, the programme team was still struggling with a vacancy rate of 39% due to an ongoing recruitment freeze in the wake of plans to dissolve NHS England. Following the end of the freeze, the Department is now confident that it has filled all key roles. However, we remain sceptical that the programme has the expertise it needs given that the risk that vacancies will delay the programme had been rated red, the scale of recruitment required to close the gap from November, and the time new staff will need to get up to speed. recommendation The Department must provide greater assurance that it has the skills and capability it needs for the programme. It should: a. be clear on the programme’s critical path and what this means for its staffing requirements; and b. develop a clear plan to address skills shortages, which could include working with other departments who are taking forward initiatives to develop key skills. Once completed, it should write to the Committee with the details.