Johnson's pledge of 40 new hospitals by 2030 'unachievable', ministers told

Boris Johnson's pledge to build 40 new NHS hospitals by 2030 across England "appears to be unachievable", government advisers have told Labour ministers.

- Denis Campbell

The warning from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) comes as Wes Streeting prepares to tell MPs how the government plans to progress 25 of the 40 rebuilds that have been paused.

The health secretary is expected to make a Commons statement, possibly as soon as today, in which he will set out a revised timetable for delivery of the 25 projects, which will involve delays.

But in its most recent annual report, published last Thursday, the IPA gave a gloomy verdict on the New Hospitals Programme (NHP). It classified delivery of the project as "red" - its highest risk rating.

It cited an array of problems that have beset the NHP, including how much it will cost to make the promised new facilities a reality. Costs have spiralled from £20bn to an estimated £30bn.

"Successful delivery of the project appears to be unachievable", it said.

"There are major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable."

It added: "The project may need re-scoping and/or its overall viability reassessed."