A Programme Director is being recruited to drive the development of the new health hub, working with Dacorum Borough Council, Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The three organisations have joined forces to explore opportunities for bringing hospital, GP and community health services into a new health facility that would allow them to work together to support the local community in a more holistic way.
Options being developed include the proposed relocation of services currently provided at Hemel Hempstead Hospital to a new town centre health campus as part of a regeneration plan for the Market Square area. A high-level feasibility study was carried out and established there was a strong strategic case to move forward with the proposal. As a result, the partners are funding the next stage of developing a business case.
Funding for the scheme is not related to the rebuilding of Watford General Hospital, which has been approved by the government and will be paid for from a different programme. Work is underway to appoint advisors with the necessary technical expertise to write a strategic outline case.
The strategic outline case, which will be completed by the end of 2025, will evaluate options for the location of the health campus and which services will be provided there. These will be shared with local people as part of a public engagement process, which will start in the spring. An external contractor will also be recruited to undertake the technical analysis required for the initial planning of the scheme.
Councillor Adrian England, Leader of Dacorum Borough Council, said: “We’re excited by the progress of the project and the benefits the proposed health campus would bring to our local communities in Dacorum. It would improve the health and wellbeing of our community by providing health care services, a range of clinical facilities and other NHS services into a purpose-built and accessible facility. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to progress this project further.”
Jane Halpin, Chief Executive of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, said: “The development of a health campus for Hemel Hempstead reflects the ambitions of the local NHS to develop health services at the heart of local communities and to bring services under the same roof wherever we can to provide patients with joined up care. We’re committed to keeping the needs of patients and local people at the centre of our plans and we will be seeking local views as we develop and refine proposals.”
Matthew Coats, Chief Executive of West Herts NHS Trust, said: “We’re delighted to be working closely with our partners to progress this ambitious plan to improve the health and wellbeing of our local communities by providing joined up, holistic services, both now and in the future. The fact we’re now recruiting a team to lead this project underlines the momentum behind the project and our collective commitment to it.”
