Future of new West Suffolk Hospital remains uncertain

Dr Peter Prinsley, the new Labour MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket who has worked as a surgeon for 40 years, attempted to press the Prime Minster on the future of the project, a promise made by the previous Conservative government.

The existing hospital has stood since the 1970s and has structural defects associated with RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete).

West Suffolk Hospital (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Dr Prinsley said: “As a surgeon from East Anglia, I welcome the measures the new government is taking to fulfil its mission to fix the NHS.

“In my constituency of Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, the West Suffolk Hospital is badly affected by RAAC, just like the James Paget Hospital in Norfolk where I’ve worked for nearly 30 years. Does the Prime Minister agree that the RAAC hospitals must be priorities as the new government undertakes its review of the new hospital programme?”

MP Dr Peter Prinsley (Image: HOUSE OF COMMONS)

Addressing Dr Prinsley’s question, Mr Starmer criticised the last government’s promises and stressed a review of the programme was now underway but stopped short of making any promises.

He said:  “We have to reset the new hospital programme and put it on a sustainable footing.

“The last Government promised 40 new hospitals, the problem is they weren’t 40, they weren’t new, and some of them weren’t even hospitals.

“Hospitals with RAAC, including West Suffolk Hospital, must be a priority so we’re reviewing the programme and the secretary of state will update Parliament as soon as possible.”

Question marks over the future of the project to replace the hospital, earmarked for the Hardwick Manor site, Bury, have remained since new chancellor, Rachel Reeves, revealed that plans to rebuild 40 hospitals by 2030 would be reviewed.

Sir Keir Starmer's response to Dr Prinsley mimicked a reply earlier this week to another of the county’s MPs, James Cartlidge, for South Suffolk, who wrote to Parliament asking for clearer detail on a timeline for the project.

On Monday, September 2, Mr Cartlidge asked the government for more clarity on the timetable for rebuilding the hospital.

South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge (Image: HOUSE OF COMMONS)

Karin Smyth, minister of state for health and social care, said the government recognised the need for investment in west Suffolk and that the review would consider the urgency of rebuilding hospitals built mostly using RAAC, but stopped short of giving any timelines.

She added: “[Wes Streeting] will consider the findings and update Parliament on the outcome of the review reporting back to patients, clinicians and local communities on the next steps for the New Hospital Programme.

“We will provide a clear and realistic timetable for delivery of the programme and agree the investment needed to get patients the care they deserve.”

“This will consider the urgent need to rebuild the seven hospitals built mostly using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete to protect staff and patient safety.”