Media reports that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak blocked the rebuilding of five hospitals affected by crumbling concrete three years ago – including one in Yorkshire – are shameful, UNISON says.
Reports in the Guardian suggest only two of seven hospital rebuilding projects were authorised in 2020 by the Treasury. This was when Rishi Sunak was chancellor, and the current health secretary Steve Barclay was his chief secretary.
Airedale General Hospital in Keighley was one of the five not signed off. The others are in Leighton in Cheshire, the Queen Elizabeth in Norfolk, Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire and Frimley Park in Surrey. All five were added to the new hospitals building programme this year.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Gary Cleaver said: “Not authorising plans to rebuild hospitals known to be in danger of collapse is absolutely disgraceful.
“It creates a massive safety risk to patients and staff. The Prime Minister should be ashamed.
“Airedale General Hospital currently has some ceilings propped up with supports, all because he decided it wasn’t worth rebuilding three years ago.
“The hospital’s disaster plan, for if the worst happens, would see all patients moved to Leeds – creating huge pressures on other hospitals in the region.
“Ministers will say they signed off on a new hospital in May this year, but that doesn’t justify leaving a dangerous building in place for another three years, putting thousands of people at risk.
“This is yet another example of the mess the Conservative government has created over the past 13 years.”
