Concern for future of Shotley Bridge hospital after Labour delay

The proposed Shotley Bridge Hospital has been cast in doubt once again after a government announcement today (Monday, July 29). 

Construction work is yet to begin on the facility in Consett, County Durham, which has been delayed multiple times. 

Planning permission was granted in March 2023 but inflation has been blamed for rising costs, with the budget rising to between £50-60 million. 

How the new hospital could look (Image: Medical Architecture)

The Government added the project to the New Hospital Programme in 2020 despite plans being drawn up long before the scheme was launched. 

Labour pledged to build the hospital in June. But last week, Wes Streeting ordered a review of the funding and timetable for the plans to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030. 

The Health Secretary said it is “painfully clear” it will not be possible to deliver the Conservatives’ £20 billion New Hospital Programme in the timeframe.

And speaking today, Rachel Reeves said: “Only one new project has opened to patients and only six have started their main construction activity.”

She added the previous government gave people “false hope” on the projects, adding in the Commons: “We will conduct a complete review of the hospital programme, with a thorough, realistic and costed timetable for delivery.”

Councillor Dominic Haney, of Consett South ward, criticised both Labour and the former Conservative government for its management of the plans. 

“I fear Labour might have finally sunk the Shotley Hospital ship,” the Liberal Democrat said. 

“The Conservatives delivered a devastating blow to the bow by delaying and delaying it, with the naive aim of trying to make the scheme cheaper. 

Speaking after the announcement, he added: “Labour’s plan to delay the hospital again is a false economy. As construction costs continue to rise, another delay may well put the whole scheme underwater.

“If the new Labour government wants to do the right thing and make the difficult decisions it claims it is capable of, it would clean up the Tories' mess and stump up the cash now to give our town the hospital it deserves.”

The existing hospital site in Shotley Bridge, County Durham.

But Labour councillor Kevin Earley is more hopeful about the project’s future. 

“I’m more than amazed that the money was not set aside for our hospital. I remain positive that we have a great case for the new hospital and I will be putting the case to the new government.”

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The current Shotley Bridge Hospital is in Cllr Earley’s Benfieldside ward. He added: “This will be a sound investment in the future and I’m sure it will go ahead.”

Once built, the new facility will replace the outdated existing hospital in Shotley Bridge and provide a 16-bed in-patient rehabilitation ward and urgent treatment centre. 

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust was contacted for comment.