A total of 21 sites have been approved for completion, including seven given priority due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

The remaining 25 schemes will be reviewed by the Government after chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a ‘complete reset' for the programme.

Welcome news

Chief executive of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Ewen Cameron, welcomed the news that West Suffolk Hospital would be one of the RAAC hospitals approved for completion.

Dr Cameron said: ‘This is good news for our patients, staff and communities in and around west Suffolk.'

Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB,  also welcomed plans for the rebuild of RAAC affected hospitals run by Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust andJames Paget University Hospitals NHS.

Bleakley said: ‘This is really welcome news for residents of Norfolk and Waveney, as well as for the staff who work at both hospitals. Rebuilding the hospitals is an important part of our plan for improving the care we provide to local people, alongside investing in primary and community care. Changes of this scale do not happen often, to make the most of the money and the opportunity it is essential that we also look at how we care for people and what we can do better. We look forward to working with local people as we further develop our plans.'

The full list of approved schemes and those under review can be found here.