The affordability of 23 hospital schemes with a capital value of £6bn will come under scrutiny as plans to move care out of hospitals press ahead.

The study, which could lead to a reduction in the size of the schemes, will take "no longer than four to five months" to complete, according to the Department of Health. It is the next stage in the review announced earlier this year of hospitals being built, or planned to be built, under the private finance initiative.