The desperately-needed rebuild of a crumbling hospital may not be complete until three years after its current shelf life, the health secretary has warned.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn is currently held up by thousands of wooden and steel props, due to its crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
The building's current life span is due to expire in 2030, meaning it has been placed at the front of the queue for reconstruction in the government's New Hospitals Programme.
However, health secretary Wes Streeting has warned that work to replace the hospital may not be complete until 2033, with construction expected to begin in two years time.
Speaking in Parliament to unveil the timescale of the programme following a spending review, Mr Streeting announced the QEH - along with the James Paget in Gorleston - would be in the first wave of funded projects.
However, when asked by James Wild, Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, whether he was able to commit to the 2030 deadline for the rebuild, Mr Streeting said he could not.
He said: "We recognise the challenge of RAAC in the Queen Elizabeth and took that approach from the outset.
"I can confirm that the programme will start construction in 2027-28. It is due to be completed in 2032-33 but will be prioritised for expedition as a RAAC scheme.
"If we can go faster, we will."
He went on to deliver a jibe at former South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss, who lost her seat in the May general election.
He said: "If he [Mr Wild] is not happy with the pace, he should reflect on the fact that one of the local MPs was a former prime minister.
"She had the chance to get on with it. I hope I do not get a legal letter, but she did not deliver, did she?"
Mr Wild said the Labour government was "breaking a promise" in its admission the 2030 deadline was unlikely to be met.
Terry Jermy, who won Ms Truss's seat, welcomed the funding award for the QEH rebuild, which he said was "desperately needed".
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