CONFIRMED: New hospital WILL be built in King's Lynn
It's been confirmed that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be rebuilt
Last updated 2nd Jan 2024
The Health Secretary Steve Barclay has confirmed that King's Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be rebuilt.
It's a major victory for campaigners, who have long called for the crumbling concrete QEH to be replaced with a brand new facility.
The building has been added to the government's New Hospital Programme - an effort to build 40 new hospitals across the UK by 2030.
Speaking in Parliament, Steve Barclay said: "Seven hospitals in England have been constructed either wholly or in part of RAAC (the type of concrete used in the QEH)"
"We accept in full the independent assessment that those hospitals are not safe to operate past 2030".
"Seven RAAC hospitals will be completely rebuilt using a new standardised design... with the aim of completing all seven by 2030."
"I can confirm to the house today that all of those hospitals will be fully funded".
West Norfolk's QEH was opened in 1980 and is reaching the end of its useable life.
It was built out of a type of concrete which is now crumbling. The building is now being held up by around 4,300 metal and wooden props across 56 different areas.
There have also been previous reports of staff putting out buckets in wards to catch rainwater leaking in, with fears about the ceilings falling in onto patients.
The hospital currently has over four times more props than beds for patients making it the most propped up hospital in the UK.
Alice Webster, QEH Chief Executive said: "We are absolutely delighted to be added to the New Hospital Programme."
"This crucial announcement means we can more at pace to bring a much need new hopsital to King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
"It's execellent news for our patients, the communities we serve and every person in TeamQEH.
"I want to express our immense gratitude to all who have supported us in getting to this crucial stage".
Preparation work has been ongoing behind the scenes, meaning hopsital bosses can now hit the ground running - with the aim to open the new hospital by 2030.