The New Hospital Programme has reached a major milestone after confirming 11 long-term partnerships that will oversee the delivery of a new generation of NHS hospitals across England.
Spanning locations from Greater Manchester and the East of England to Cornwall, the agreements signal the transition of the programme from planning into large-scale delivery. The new partnerships bring NHS trusts together with some of the UK's leading construction organisations in a collaborative model designed to improve efficiency, increase standardisation and accelerate delivery.
At the heart of the initiative is Hospital 2.0, the New Hospital Programme's standardised approach to hospital design, construction and operation. By combining modern methods of construction, digital innovation and nationally consistent standards, the model aims to improve productivity, enhance quality and create healthcare environments that are safer, more sustainable and better equipped for future healthcare demands.
The newly signed agreements form the first wave of Hospital 2.0 partnerships and will enable NHS trusts to move forward with developing facilities that are designed to serve local communities for decades. The programme is also expected to provide greater certainty for the construction sector, supporting investment, skills development and long-term workforce growth.
Announcing the milestone, Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health, highlighted the need to remove barriers that have historically slowed major NHS infrastructure projects. She said:
"For too long, the construction of new hospitals has been bogged down by bureaucratic procurement processes, even after full approval and funding was in place, and we’re determined to change that.
"The changes announced today are a major step forward in streamlining the procurement process. Patients can look forward to new hospitals being delivered quicker, industry can plan with certainty, and taxpayers can be assured that we are getting maximum value for their money.
"With stronger collaboration, shared learning and a boost for jobs, this further demonstrates this government’s commitment to the New Hospital Programme, providing world-class facilities for the NHS and helping the economy in the process."
The Hospital 2.0 Alliance brings together NHS trusts, construction partners and the New Hospital Programme in a long-term collaborative framework that moves away from treating each hospital as an individual project.
Instead, organisations will work collectively, sharing expertise, applying consistent standards and driving continuous improvement across multiple schemes. The approach is intended to reduce duplication, improve value for money and ensure lessons learned on one project can be quickly applied across the programme.
First Wave of Hospital 2.0 Partnerships
The inaugural partnerships include:
- Airedale NHS Foundation Trust – GRAHAM
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust – Sacyr UK
- Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Laing O'Rourke
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Skanska
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust – Bovis Construction
- Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Leighton Hospital) – Integrated Health Projects (VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine joint venture)
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Morgan Sindall Construction
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (Hinchingbrooke Hospital) – Kier Construction
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust – Skanska
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust – Willmott Dixon Construction
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust – DRAGADOS Sociedad Anónima
The contracts represent a significant step towards modernising NHS estates and delivering facilities capable of meeting future healthcare needs.
The programme aims to create hospitals that:
- Improve patient experience
