Government Has Not Invested a Single Penny for Promised New Berkshire Hospital

Government Has Not Invested a Single Penny for Promised New Berkshire Hospital 

• The government has not transferred any money to the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust to invest in the area’s promised new hospital

• The scheme forms part of the Conservative party’s 2019 manifesto pledge to build “40 new hospitals” but the project is “still in the development stage”

• Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Wokingham, Clive Jones, has backed an amendment to the King's Speech proposed by the party, which would place the Health Secretary under a legal obligation to deliver the 40 new hospitals by 2030

A Liberal Democrat Freedom Of Information request (FOI) has revealed that Berkshire’s promised new hospital is yet to receive a single penny of investment from the government.  

In response to the FOI which asked how much money has the government or NHS transferred to begin building the hospital, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said “no funds have yet been transferred to spend on building the hospital.”

The FOI also revealed that the project was “still in the development stage” and that “no formal planning application has yet been made” for the project. 

The Lib Dems have slammed the Conservative government for running the NHS into the ground and failing to deliver the modern health services that Berkshire deserves.

The Liberal Democrats will put forward an amendment to the King’s Speech which would legally bind the Secretary of State for Health to ensure Berkshire's new hospital, and all the other hospitals promised, are delivered by 2030. 

Clive Jones, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Wokingham, said:

“It is so disappointing to see our promised new hospital pushed to the back of the line for funding. We desperately need a modern hospital that is fit for purpose, but yet again Wokingham is taken for granted by Westminster. 

“It is scandalous that the Conservative government can stand behind these pledges when we know they have not put their money where their mouth is. The government must urgently provide funds to ensure patients in Berkshire are treated in safe environments. 

“I support the amendment in Parliament this week, which would legally oblige the government to deliver on its commitment to build the hospital by the promised 2030 deadline. Our patients deserve what has been promised.”