Two crumbling hospitals in Norfolk will be rebuilt under Keir Starmer’s government, Labour has promised.
A spokesman for the party has said it is committed to delivering the new buildings at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.
It follows fears the election could derail the race against time to construct the facilities by 2030 – the deadline for when the buildings are believed to become no longer fit for purpose.
Both hospitals had been identified as being at high risk by the NHS.
The QEH in particular is in a sorry state, with its roof currently held up by thousands of props and there are concerns it could be at risk of collapse due to the use of Reinforced Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
A spokesman for Labour said: “There is no clearer sign of the damage the Conservatives have done to our NHS than the crumbling hospital patients in Gorleston or Kings Lynn are being treated in.
“They have failed to rebuild it before this election and given another five years they will fail again.
“Only Labour has a plan to deliver the change our NHS needs. We are committed to delivering the New Hospitals Programme, including modernising the QEH at Kings Lynn to address its potentially dangerous RAAC; and rebuilding James Paget Hospital to ensure it’s fit for purpose.”
The Conservatives had pledged to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 but the programme has been beset by delays and rising costs.
It is currently unknown if Labour expects it will be able to deliver the hospitals by this time.
The Conservatives have also committed to completing the New Hospitals Programme if re-elected as well as pledging to boost NHS funding.