Fear Torbay hospital upgrades may never happen

Torbay leader criticises delay

Steve Darling has criticised the government's review of the New Hospital Programme (NHP), which delays much-needed improvements to Torbay Hospital.

This review will reassess the scope and timeline for hospital rebuilds across the nation, a situation that arose due to the previous Conservative government’s failure to secure funding for this initiative.

Around 80% of its facilities are deemed poor or substandard, facing challenges like those of RAAC concrete hospitals prioritised for immediate rebuilding under the NHP.

Mr. Darling has urged the Health Secretary to invest immediately to prevent the hospital from deteriorating further, as staff face substandard working conditions and patients risk inadequate care.

Steve Darling MP commented: “Torbay’s residents deserve the same commitment to safety and modernisation as those in other parts of the country. The delays outlined by the government are simply not good enough.

Our community should not have to wait for basic improvements to facilities that are already putting patients at risk. Parliament is set to return on the 7^{th of} October, and I look forward to meeting with the Secretary of State and demanding better for Torbay.”

“The previous Conservative government promised that the New Hospital Programme would deliver, but instead, these commitments were hollow without funding. Torbay Hospital is now at risk of being placed on the backburner, and our community cannot wait any longer” .