Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of needs of women and children when deciding the short list for beneficiaries of the New Hospital Programme.

The first schemes for the New Hospital Programme announced in 2020 are all hospitals which require additional investment. In determining which schemes to take forward we ensured that each new hospital could benefit from the most effective and efficient solution for its local requirements. This includes facilities providing specialist services for the needs of women and children where this is the most appropriate solution for local and regional healthcare requirements.

The selection process for the next 8 new hospitals received over 120 expressions of interest from a wide range of hospital trusts. The first stage of assessment involved consideration of the expressions of interest, alongside analysis of existing official datasets signed off by trust executives, and review and challenge from regional NHS leaders to provide expertise on local system priorities. A national panel will consider the full breadth of this evidence and analysis and provide advice to Ministers on a longlist for consideration.