Concerns new hospital project 'will never happen'

Fears have been raised that a new hospital may never be built, after a government review into proposed spending.

Planning permission was granted for Shotley Bridge Hospital in Consett, County Durham, in March 2023 as part of the previous government's New Hospital Programme.

However, construction is yet to start and the project is now under review by the new government, with one local councillor saying "it hasn't happened and I fear it never will".

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust told a council health scrutiny meeting on Monday it was "absolutely committed" to the development.

Speaking at the meeting, Liberal Democrat Dominic Haney, who represents the Consett South ward on Durham County Council, added he was also "depressed and anxious" about the project.

A 16-bed in-patient rehabilitation ward and urgent treatment centre are proposed for the site, which was scheduled to replace the current facility.

Costs for the development have risen to between £50m and £60m, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Jane Curry, the trust's programme manager, said the team was working with "no funds", meaning it had not been able to develop the scheme further.

She said the outcome of the government's review was expected "in the coming weeks", but there was no clear timescale.

Sue Jacques, chief executive at the trust, said there needed to be a "plan B" for the hospital, should the plans be scrapped.

The hospital was included in a list of projects to be reviewed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

At the time, Streeting said that although the government wanted to fulfil the New Hospital Programme, it was "undeliverable, unaffordable, and estimated costs had risen by billions."

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