NHS trusts are braced for disappointment this week after it was reported that some New Hospital Programme (NHP) projects will not be delivered by 2030.

A total of 21 schemes were approved by the Government in September with the remaining 25 being reviewed after chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a ‘complete reset' for the programme.

A report in The Guardian on 18 January, however, said over half of the original planned projects will now be delayed to beyond the 2030 deadline.

Matthew Taylor chief executive of the NHS Confederation said it was ‘very disappointing' and urged the Government to consider the ‘bigger picture on capital' ahead of the Spending Review this spring, ‘particularly how changes to the way capital funding is allocated could ensure more efficient and effective spending to support its three shifts for the NHS'.

Taylor added: ‘Nine in 10 NHS leaders say a lack of investment in capital over previous years is undermining their ability to tackle the elective backlog. In order to deliver on their pledge to cut waiting times, Government will need to improve how capital funding is allocated to, and accessed by NHS services.'

A DHSC spokesperson said: ‘We will publish the outcome of the NHP review shortly, but we are committed to delivering all of the hospital projects.

‘The New Hospital Programme we inherited was undeliverable, with the funding due to run out in March 2025. We are working up a timeline that is affordable and honest, and will announce the outcome of the review in due course.'