Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
First Report - The New Hospital Programme
Public Accounts Committee
HC 77
Published 17 November 2023
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the First report from Session 2023-24 · published 8 Mar 2024
Recommendations & Conclusions
9
Conclusion
Deferred
DHSC delayed in creating standardised hospital design and approval processes.
Conclusion
DHSC claims that its plans to standardise approvals processes and that hospital design will reduce the time taken to build a hospital from as much as 11 years to about six. We asked whether there was a case for rebuilding …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is examining the possibility of using existing design and contracting approaches for a small number of schemes to accelerate delivery, with final decisions on this to be made by summer 2024.
HM Treasury
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13
Conclusion
Deferred
Insisting on unproven Hospital 2.0 designs for urgent RAAC hospital rebuilds by 2030 is questionable.
Conclusion
Among DHSC’s other commitments, the need to rebuild the seven RAAC hospitals by 2030 is particularly pressing. RAAC hospitals are costing taxpayers a lot of money as remedial measures are taken to keep them safe and open.24 In this context, …
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Government Response Summary
The government is examining the possibility of progressing a small number of schemes, including RAAC hospitals, using traditional design and contracting methods, with decisions expected by summer 2024, while also intending to test Hospital 2.0 within RAAC schemes.
HM Treasury
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24
Conclusion
Deferred
Future funding for RAAC remediation beyond 2024-25 remains uncertain despite 2030 eradication goal.
Conclusion
NHS England also provided us with an update on its progress in dealing with known RAAC buildings. At the time we took evidence in September, it told us that there were projects to remove RAAC from the then 24 sites …
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Government Response Summary
The government, despite stating 'recommendation implemented', confirms that funding needs for RAAC mitigation and eradication beyond 2024-25 will inform bids at subsequent Spending Reviews, thus deferring a definitive commitment. It also commits to writing to the Committee with an assessment of RAAC in other health sectors and the name of the responsible NHSE official.
HM Treasury
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