The future of plans to redevelop or relocate the Royal Berkshire hospital were thrown into doubt yesterday, with the government’s announcement of a review into the pledge by the previous government to fund the building of 40 new hospitals.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Labour has uncovered an overspend of £22 billion, which she said involved plans that the Conservatives had announced but could not fund.
It’s not yet known how long the review will take. The next Budget is scheduled for October 30.
Wokingham MP Clive Jones, speaking in parliament, said: “Reversing years of economic mismanagement by the previous government, I really do welcome the, commitment to speak to MPs who are affected by this failure to provide 40 new hospitals.
“These were promised four and a half years ago.
“Patients and, just as importantly, staff at these hospitals will have been waiting for a long, long, time.
“Will the Chancellor make sure that there is a decision very soon, so that we do not have to wait another four and a half years for the staff and the patients to know what is happening with their hospital ?”
The Chancellor said: “The promises that were made by the previous government now turn out to be built on sand.
“The money simply wasn’t there.
“The decisions that we’re having to take today are not easy decisions, they are not the decisions that I want to make, but we have to put a public finances on a firm footing”
She added the health secretary would meet with affected MPs as soon as possible to talk through what the next steps will be to make sure that all constituents have the public services, including the hospitals, that we deserve.
