Manchester hospital rebuild could be at risk as government announces 'complete review'

The future of a Manchester hospital hangs in the balance as the government announces a review of the programme to rebuild it.

The Chancellor today announced 'a complete review' of the project first unveiled by former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson to build 40 new hospitals. The programme includes a multi-million pound project to rebuild the crumbling North Manchester General Hospital.

Rachel Reeves said since October 2020, when Mr Johnson pledged the NHS boost, 'only one new project' has opened to patients and construction has started at just 'six' more locations. She said the review would culminate in a 'thorough, realistic and costed timetable for delivery'.

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North Manchester General Hospital in Crumpsall was promised a huge transformation project to rebuild its crumbling Victorian-era building, but no work has started as yet. Ms Reeves, in a withering attack on Tory financial planning, said delivery was 'wildly off track' and the Conservative government 'continued to maintain its commitment to 40 hospitals without anywhere close to the funding required to deliver them.

Patients, she added, have been given 'false hope' as a result.

The Manchester Evening News, however, was told in August last year the huge rebuild would go-ahead, with a start date for works to begin pencilled in for 2025 and a complete date set in line with the then policy of 2030. Plans already outlined included a new acute hospital, a new mental health inpatient unit, a wellbeing hub, an education hub, a new residential community, housing, commercial space and a village green.

Doctors, hospital leaders and councillors alike,