Newport mayor: £500m Future Fit project spending 'beyond a joke'
Spending on Future Fit has gone 'beyond a joke' and needs to be curbed by Government, a town's mayor has said.
The amount spent on the plans for Shropshire's hospitals has now reached almost £500 million, and Newport mayor Councillor Peter Scott said the money could have been better spend on new hospital facilities.
Under the plans, the county's main A&E would be based in Shrewsbury, and Telford's Princess Royal Hospital would become the site for planned care. Telford would have an A&E Local, although the full details of what it will offer has not yet been decided. It would only be available for core hours.
The original cost of Future Fit was going to be £312, but a leaked document has revealed that inflation and other adjustments have caused this figure to rise significantly to £498m.
The leaked report adds: "The difference in required capital is due to inflation (£134m), increased awareness and knowledge (£24m) and on-balance sheet adjustments (£28m).
"A phased development approach has also been included for consideration as agreed with NHS England/Improvement.
"This approach sets out summary of potential development over six key phases.
"Further work is required to develop this approach further and confirm exact costings."
Councillor Scott said it was time for a decision to be made by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
"Future Fit is out of control – they haven't got a clue what they're trying to do now," Councillor Scott said.
"It's time that Matt Hancock steps in and deals with it one way or another.
"The cost has got far too high for very little in return. For that kind of money, it could have built an A&E between Telford and Shrewsbury."
Councillor Scott said Newport was geographically in the worst spot for the Future Fit changes.
"We need a decision to be made so we know where we stand in Newport," he said. "All Future Fit is doing is piling on the cost without dealing with the problem. We could still be having this conversation a year from now.
"It's now for Matt Hancock to intervene and make things sensible. We were told in the last election that the NHS is safe. Let's see them put their money where their mouth is. We need the government to step up and live up to their promise of improving the NHS, and especially improving the NHS for Telford & Wrekin, and for Newport."
