Sarah Dyke, MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, has called on the government to safeguard the redevelopment of Musgrove Park Hospital, following an announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that the project may be scrapped as part of a wider review of the UK's hospital building programme.

Musgrove Park was one of 40 hospitals slated for enhancement or rebuilding under the New Hospitals Programme (NHP), initiated by Boris Johnson's government in October 2020. The project is seen as essential for residents in Glastonbury and Somerton, particularly in light of the potential closure of the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit at Yeovil District Hospital, which could leave urgent stroke patients needing to travel to Taunton for treatment.

The future of the hospital is now in question after Reeves announced that the NHP would be extensively reviewed to rein in public spending. She accused the previous Conservative administration of giving people "false hope" about their public services. This follows a series of reports, including an inadequate rating for Musgrove's maternity services by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November 2023. The trust has since claimed to have made significant improvements, with more planned.

A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care said: "The previous government's commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is undeliverable and unaffordable. The funding allocated by the previous government runs out in March.

"We must reset the new hospital programme to put it on a sustainable footing, following persistent delays and cost overruns. We are therefore launching a full review of the programme to provide a thorough, costed and realistic timeline for delivery and to ensure we can replace the crumbling hospital estate in England. This government is determined to be honest with people about what can be delivered, and not let them down again."

Sarah Dyke has urged the Health Secretary to ensure the funding is secured and to use any fiscal changes to safeguard the project. "The Conservatives ran our NHS into the ground, leaving patients and staff at risk in crumbling hospitals," she said. "Patients and healthcare workers in Glastonbury and Somerton deserve better than to worry their local hospital won't get the investment it needs."