The Conservatives are taking a stand over a decade-long delay to build a new Royal Berkshire Hospital that was promised.
Since 2020, planning has been undertaken to deliver 40 new hospitals in England as part of the previous Conservative government’s New Hospitals Programme.
But issues with the project along with financial uncertainty led the Labour government elected in July last year to put the programme in review.
One of the 40 hospitals identified for a new build is the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
However, news that the Royal Berkshire Hospital project would be delayed to 2035-2039 was announced on Monday, January 20.
The announcement has been seized on by the Conservatives who have accused the Labour government of breaking campaign promises.
Councillor Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood) is due to introduce a motion at a full meeting of Reading Borough Council expressing deep concern about the project delay.
His motion states: “NHS bosses and local health authorities have raised concerns that any delay in the redevelopment programme may risk patient safety.
“It is critical that Reading residents have access to modern, safe, and well-equipped healthcare facilities.”
Cllr Singh has asked fellow councillors to note the uncertainty caused by the review of the New Hospital Programme, which he argues will ‘compromise the quality of healthcare for Reading residents’.
He has also asked colleagues to note that NHS trusts and local healthcare authorities have highlighted the risk to patient safety and service quality posed by the redevelopment if it is not delivered in a timely manner.
Cllr Singh’s motion calls for cllr Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the leader of the council, to write to Wes Streeting, the Labour health secretary, to express concern about the potential impact of any delay in the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire hospitals on the health and safety of Reading residents, and ask a timeline for when the redevelopment can ‘realistically be delivered’.
He has also asked cllr Terry to write to Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading Central and other MPs to raise the issue in parliament and for them to give the council regular updates.
Cllr Singh was the Conservative candidate for Reading Central in last year’s general election, with Mr Rodda beating him into second place with a 12,637 vote majority.
The motion will be presented during the full council meeting on Tuesday, January 28.
It is expected that the motion will be amended by the Labour Party, which has 32 councillors, compared to the seven Green members, four Conservative cllrs, three Liberal Democrats and cllr Sarah Hacker (Independent, Battle).
The Labour government has accused the Conservatives of leaving a £22 billion black hole in government finances, claiming the New Hospital Programme is ‘undeliverable’.
Of the 40 new hospitals promised by the previous Conservative government, only two have been delivered.
The Royal Liverpool Hospital opened in 2022 and the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital opened last year.
Five hospital trusts were added to the programme because buildings contained reinforced autoclave aerated concrete (RAAC) – including Frimley Park Hospital.
