A report has said that Lynn’s hospital can operate safely to 2030 and beyond – sparking concerns that keeping it open will be “costly and wasteful”.

A Mott Macdonald report commissioned by the Government previously said that 2030 was the latest the crumbling Queen Elizabeth Hospital could remain open before becoming unsafe.

Now, with a rebuild not expected to be complete until around 2033, a new report from the same consultancy says the existing QEH can remain open until then.

It says that “significant investment has already been given to reduce risks”. From 2021-2025, £118.5million has been spent on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) remediation at the QEH – more than at any other hospital.

Annual costs to increase the lifespan of the hospital past 2030 have been redacted.

The timing of the findings will no doubt lead to questions on whether this is a convenient report given the raft of delays the rebuild has already faced.

North West Norfolk MP James Wild said: “While the report says the QEH can now remain open beyond 2030 due to safety remediation work, this leaves patients and staff experiencing very challenging conditions.

“It is also very costly and wasteful to spend money simply propping up the hospital when it is going to be replaced.

“Therefore, as the report says, the need to replace the QEH as soon as ‘feasibly possible’ is essential.

“The Health Secretary previously assured me if the trust can go faster than the two year delay in the opening date under Labour’s plans compared to the last Conservative government’s, then there are no funding barriers to doing so. I will hold him to that commitment as we need to get on with this.”

The report concludes that “with appropriate mitigation and sustained maintenance”, the seven RAAC hospitals in England can “remain operational beyond 2030”.

It says: “The report notes that without full replacement, the compounded effects of structural and infrastructure degradation significantly elevates operational and clinical risks.”

In a letter to Mr Wild, health minister Karin Smyth MP said the report concludes the QEH “can remain safely open and operational beyond 2030”.

Mott Macdonald had completed an earlier study which identified 2030 as the end of life for RAAC hospitals, including the QEH – which is the most propped-up hospital in the country.

Borough and county councillor Rob Colwell, who represents Gaywood, said: “Whilst the updated report by the original writers Mott MacDonald on the lifespan of the QEH will provide welcome relief to those staff and patients who are now forced to endure the propped-up hospital for another two years past 2030 original lifespan, my message to the Government and NHS trust is not to take the foot off the gas.

“As with delaying a medical procedure, delay causes additional risk. Previous Conservative government delays on a rebuild have got us into this terrible situation, we can’t risk more delay.”

He added: “I note the annual costs to increase the lifespan of the hospital past 2030 have been redacted.

“This is important information that should be in the public arena, as it means we can decide if the Conservative delays were value for money long term.

“Whilst additional mitigation works indicate a possible lifespan until 2040, the Government must follow the recommendation within the report that the replacement of the RAAC hospitals continues as a priority.”

This is a breaking news story and more details will follow.