Prime minister Keir Starmer has failed to commit to funding for the proposed rebuilding of Watford General Hospital.

At prime minister’s questions today (October 9), Gagan Mohindra, Conservative MP for South West Hertfordshire, said: “The commitment of £400m in funding for a new hospital at Watford General was one of the many brilliant things the previous Conservative government and my good friend the former MP for Watford, Dean Russell, did, and would have been life-changing as well as life-saving for so many of my constituents.

“Why is the prime minister cancelling this funding commitment and spending billions of pounds giving pay rises to train drivers instead?”

Gagan Mohindra.Gagan Mohindra. (Image: Gagan Mohindra) In response, the prime minister said: “Because the promise of forty new hospitals didn’t involve forty, didn’t involve hospitals, they weren’t new, and they weren’t funded.”

The Conservative government announced Watford General was one of the forty hospitals to be rebuilt, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and finish by 2030.

But the government has since said it will be reviewing the feasibility of projects that are part of the New Hospital Programme, including Watford General. The review is expected to be completed in time for the government’s Budget at the end of October.

(Image: PA) The government has said it wants the programme to be completed, but public finances are “incredibly challenging” and it is “not prepared to offer people false hope”.

Before the election, Wes Streeting – now health secretary – said: “Only Labour has a plan to deliver the change our NHS needs. We are committed to delivering the New Hospitals Programme, including Watford General Hospital.”

Matt Turmaine, Labour MP for Watford, has said the Watford General scheme is at “a very advanced stage and ready to go”.

“I will always champion our hospital’s cause in the corridors of power,” he added.

Watford mayor Peter Taylor.Watford mayor Peter Taylor.

A planning application for the rebuild has already been approved and the necessary land has been bought.

Peter Taylor, Liberal Democrat mayor of Watford, said it was “very disappointing” that the prime minister has not committed to the Watford General rebuild.

He continued: “We need a new hospital, not yet another review. We’ve waited long enough for this vital investment."