The future of plans to build a brand new hospital for Reading hangs in the balance as the government says it must prioritise rebuilding hospitals that contain dangerous concrete.

The government of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to build 40 new hospitals across the country by 2030 - including a new hospital to replace Royal Berkshire Hospital - but this project was described as ‘undeliverable and uncosted’ by Labour officials after they came to power in July.

The new government launched a review of the programme this summer,  placing projects on hold.

Last week, some hospitals were taken out of the review and given the green light to continue, including Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey.

Made up of two thirds crumbling concrete, it was one of a dozen hospitals given the go ahead on Friday, September 20.

But plans for Royal Berkshire Hospital, of which parts of the building are 175 years old, remain uncertain. The London Road site is on the review list meaning its rebuild project could be canned entirely.

While part of the Royal Berks Hospital dates back to 1839, the site does not contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

In a letter to MPs shared by Clive Jones, representative for Wokingham, the Health Secretary said buildings with unsafe concrete needed to be prioritised first.

Wes Streeting wrote: “The hospitals built primarily from Raac need to be replaced as a priority, to protect patient and staff safety.”

Mr Streeting added that the ‘hugely challenging’ fiscal environment could result in the government having ‘to consider rephasing schemes so that they can be taken forward as fiscal conditions allow’.

Mr Jones, MP for Wokingham, has welcomed the decision to prioritise Raac but says it is ‘extremely disappointing’ that the Royal Berkshire will be reviewed.

Mr Jones said: “I have highlighted many times in recent years that the state of some of our Royal Berkshire Hospital buildings is just not acceptable.

“This always fell on deaf ears and the Conservatives failed to act. I hope the Labour government does not do the same.”

NHS bosses in charge of the new hospital have identified two new sites for Royal Berkshire Hospital, at either Thames Valley Park or Thames Valley Science Park.

Andrew Stratham recently said that he was ‘expecting conclusions in line with October’s budget’.

All Labour members for the Reading borough, including Matt Rhoda, Olivia Bailey and Yuan Yang, promised to secure the new hospital during their election campaign.

Leader of the Conservatives in Wokingham Borough Council Pauline Jorgensen accused Labour of ‘broken promises’.

Councillor Jorgensen, who ran as parliamentary candidate for Earley and Woodley, said: “Given the terms of reference have been published in silence, on a Friday afternoon, ahead of Labour Party conference, I imagine it will be an open and shut review.”

Clive Jones further argued that the government’s ‘insistence on raising housing targets locally comes with responsibility to provide for that growing population’ through a new hospital.

The review will take place ‘as soon as possible to reach a swift conclusion on the changes needed’, The Health Secretary said.