Eleven contractors have signed long-term agreements to deliver hospitals across England under the first wave of the government’s £37bn New Hospital Programme. Each contractor will work with an NHS trust through the Hospital 2.0 Alliance, which was launched in March. The delivery model is intended to standardise hospital construction using repeatable designs, modern methods of construction and centrally managed procurement. Under the model, NHS trusts will remain responsible for delivering hospitals that reflect local requirements. The programme said the partnerships would support a longer pipeline of hospital work and provide greater certainty for contractors and the wider supply chain.