Delays to projects mean the target is unlikely to be met, with work on buildings in the second cohort of the scheme yet to have started as of May, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
The approach to achieving key objectives at lowest possible cost could also result in hospitals that are too small, the watchdog warned, as modelling assumptions may be unrealistic about the extent to which future care will be outside hospitals.
The government failed to achieve good value for money, with the scheme having cost £1.1bn by March this year and progress being slower than expected, the report concluded. The Department of Health and Social Care was said to have taken a "maximum risk" approach to the project.
The NAO found that of 32 projects announced in 2020 that are being taken forward, just 11 qualify as "whole new hospitals". Twenty amounted to rebuilds of existing hospitals, erecting new buildings at existing sites or redevelopment of existing buildings. One scheme did not meet any of those criteria, it said.
Denne historien er fra July 17, 2023-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra July 17, 2023-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Post Office boss asked about his pay and bonuses 'more than expected', says board member
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Revealed Alli gave PM a further £16,000 gift of clothing
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