Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NHS Estate

Tuesday 13 July 2021 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department has received a 9.4 billion budget for NHS estate improvements, including 48 new hospitals and upgrades to existing facilities.
  • Airedale Hospital has been allocated millions from a ring-fenced budget for aerated concrete remediation.
  • 1 billion has been committed to tackling the elective backlog, with a total of 33.9 billion in NHS funding to 2023-24.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Randall
NHS
Context

The question arises from concerns about the state of NHS facilities and their capacity to meet patient needs.

Question

What steps are being taken to improve the infrastructure of the NHS estate? The hospital trust in my constituency is struggling with outdated facilities, affecting service delivery and patient outcomes. I am asking for concrete measures that will be implemented to upgrade these essential healthcare buildings.

Answer from Edward Argar

In the manifesto, we committed to building 40 new hospitals by 2030 and upgrading another 20. We are delivering on this with plans for 48 new hospitals this decade. Improvements in maintenance, mental health facilities, and A&E capacity are also being made. The Department has received a £9.4 billion capital settlement for 2021-22, including £5.4 billion until 2024-25 for new hospital construction and upgrades, plus £4.2 billion for operational capital.

Answered
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Q2 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
NHS
Context

The hospital in the MP's constituency is constructed primarily with aerated concrete, a material known for structural deficiencies. There are concerns about the safety of this building method.

Question

Some 83% of Airedale hospital is built from aerated concrete, posing significant structural risks. Can you assure me that when your Department considers new infrastructure projects, schemes with high-risk profiles such as Airedale Hospital will be prioritized?

Answer from Edward Argar

Airedale has been allocated millions for 2021-22 from a ring-fenced budget for RAAC plank remediation. As we set criteria for the next eight hospitals, safety considerations are likely to be key factors.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify if high-risk materials would influence project prioritization directly.

How: Reassurance Without Commitment

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Q3 Philip Dunne Con
NHS
Context

The trust received £300 million in March 2018 for hospital renovations. Since then, costs have risen due to changes in Green Book standards and clinical requirements.

Question

Will the Minister commit to meeting Shropshire MPs once the strategic business case is complete to help ensure that the project can still be delivered?

Answer from Edward Argar

A letter confirmed £312 million remains allocated to the scheme. The Minister committed to approving an early funding request of £6 million, and he is happy to meet with Shropshire colleagues.

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Q4 Tom Randall
NHS
Context

Concerns have been raised that the reopening of hydrotherapy pools has been jeopardized due to hospital space being allocated for other functions and a lack of prioritization.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree it is vital to have robust plans in place to reopen as many hydrotherapy pools as possible? Will he consider meeting me to discuss this matter further?

Answer from Edward Argar

I recognise the value of hydrotherapy in treating certain conditions. I pay tribute to the all-party group's work but note infection control challenges during the pandemic have impacted these services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister acknowledged importance without providing a direct commitment to robust plans or meeting specifically for this issue.

How: Acknowledgment Without Concrete Steps

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Q5 Jon Ashworth Lab
NHS
Context

The elective backlog is at a record high of 5.3 million, with many waiting over a year for treatment. The Secretary of State promised trusts everything they need to address this.

Question

How much will trusts receive and when? Trusts are facing increased admissions due to the ongoing pandemic and must get through their backlog.

Answer from Edward Argar

£1 billion has been committed to tackling the elective backlog, with a record NHS funding of £33.9 billion to 2023-24, reflecting the Secretary of State's commitment to this issue.

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Q6 Jon Ashworth Lab
NHS
Context

On Friday, trusts were informed that the threshold for accessing elective recovery funding was increasing, making it harder to access needed funds.

Question

Trusts have been told that thresholds for accessing the elective recovery funding are rising at a critical time with more hospital admissions due to covid. Shouldn't we be providing more resources now?

Answer from Edward Argar

We have worked with NHS to determine appropriate thresholds for elective recovery funding, considering infection control restrictions' impact on service delivery. The fund aims to ensure trusts are funded for above-normal activity levels to reduce waiting lists.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address why the threshold is increasing or commit to providing more resources immediately.

How: Explaining Criteria Without Addressing Concerns

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