The Department has been slow to develop the capacity and capability it needs to deliver such a complex programme. The Department’s central programme team for the New Hospital Programme will require significant technical expertise to deliver successfully. Prior to the 2025 reset, the programme had struggled to recruit staff and had become reliant on external contractors. By November 2025, the programme team was still struggling with a vacancy rate of 39% due to an ongoing recruitment freeze in...

The Department has been slow to develop the capacity and capability it needs to deliver such a complex programme. The Department’s central programme team for the New Hospital Programme will require significant technical expertise to deliver successfully. Prior to the 2025 reset, the programme had struggled to recruit staff and had become reliant on external contractors. By November 2025, the programme team was still struggling with a vacancy rate of 39% due to an ongoing recruitment freeze in the wake of plans to dissolve NHS England. Following the end of the freeze, the Department is now confident that it has filled all key roles. However, w Type: conclusion | Number: 5 | Response status: response_pending