Steve Barclay admits 40 new hospitals will not be built by 2030

Health secretary says projects instead involve a range of things' including new wings and refurbishments

The health secretary has admitted the government is not building 40 new hospitals by 2030, as long promised, but said the projects involved a range of things" including new wings and refurbishments.

Steve Barclay, who nonetheless sought to insist that this did not break the Conservatives' manifesto promise for 40 new hospitals, also argued that the public were not concerned about the distinction as long as the facilities they used were new.