RBH in Reading wants clarity on future from Chancellor after spending cut announcement

The planned rebuild of the Royal Berkshire Hospital is in doubt, after the Government put the brakes on spending.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves threw the anchor on infrastructure spending earlier this week, saying the previous Conservative Government had left a £20bn black hole in public finances.

The RBH in Reading was one of 40 new hospitals in the New Hospital Programme announced by Boris Johnson.

It is still not known when a definitive decision will be made, but the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are seeking further clarification from the Government about what the announcement means for the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

“More delays to providing facilities that are fit for the future will be disappointing news for our patients, staff and our wider community.

“The secretary of state for health and the Chancellor have repeatedly acknowledged the poor state hospital estate – and the RBH certainly falls into that category.

“We have made our case for a new hospital loud and clear – our staff and patients deserve world class health facilities.

“We do not believe the current ‘make do and mend’ approach is sustainable in the long term.

“It is costing us tens of millions of pounds a year to keep on top of maintenance work on old buildings which are steadily deteriorating meaning maintenance costs are steadily rising.

“Despite these challenges, our staff continue to deliver safe, high quality healthcare services day in day out to our local communities.”

Ms Reeve’s announcement has put the newly-elected Labour MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire between a rock and a hard place – as Olivia Bailey MP used the new hospital build as a pillar of her election campaign.

“I have met this week with the excellent staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and have restated my commitment to them that I will fight tooth and nail for a new Royal Berks,” she said.

“There is clear medical need for a new hospital – the current situation is unsustainable and I will be making this case strongly.

“But we are only in this position because the Conservatives repeatedly promised a new hospital, whilst covering up that they had absolutely no money to pay for it.

“This disgraceful behaviour means that Rachel Reeves has been forced to conduct a review of the new hospitals programme, so that we can deliver a costed and realistic plan.”