Boris Johnson has set out a £13 billion plan for 40 new hospitals to replace old and out-dated buildings as the Tories gather for their annual conference in Manchester.
The Prime Minister told The Sunday Telegraph that the Government was embarking on "the biggest programme of hospital building in a generation".
Mr Johnson said the plan was beginning with a £2.7 billion cash injection for six hospitals over the next five years.
The remaining projects, including up to a dozen smaller rural hospitals, will be completed over the second half of the next decade.
"We're launching the biggest hospital building programme in a generation. You will have seen that on the steps of Downing Street I announced 20 new hospital upgrades," he said.
"We're now following that up with 40 new hospitals we're going to be doing across the country. It's the biggest programme of hospital building in a generation."
The announcement comes as Mr Johnson arrived in Manchester for the party conference, which faces being overshadowed by moves to oust him at Westminster.
The Prime Minister also faces pressure over his links with businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri while he was London mayor.
Mr Johnson refused to answer questions about his political and personal battles as he arrived with girlfriend Carrie Symonds at the Midland Hotel.
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A small group of protesters gathered outside the ring of steel which surrounds the venue, and their anti-Brexit cries could be heard as Mr Johnson got out of his ministerial Jaguar.
"Boris is a liar" and "get your Johnson out of our democracy" were among the slogans chanted by the demonstrators.
Posting on Twitter on Saturday evening, Mr Johnson said: "Arrived in Manchester for our Conservative Party conference. Let's get Brexit done!"
The Government's defeat in the Supreme Court and its failure to win a Commons vote to schedule a recess for the conference means that Tory MPs face shuttling between Manchester and Westminster to counter the threat of an ambush by opposition parties.
A senior SNP MP said the opposition parties could stage a vote of no-confidence in the Government as early as next week in a bid to replace the Prime Minister with a caretaker leader who would secure an extension to the Brexit deadline.
Labour's Jeremy Corbyn is expected to convene another meeting of opposition leaders in Westminster on Monday to plot their next moves aimed at preventing a no-deal Brexit on October 31.
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