Building schemes have been allocated to one of 3 groups:
- schemes in wave 1 are expected to begin construction between 2025 and 2030. These schemes mainly include hospitals constructed primarily using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), and have been prioritised due to safety concerns
- schemes in waves 2 are expected to begin construction between 2030 and 2035
- schemes in wave 3 are expected to begin construction between 2035 and 2039.
Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust (PAHT) in Harlow, Watford General, and Whipps Cross hospital (which is outside our area but serves some of our patients in Epping) are all in wave 2 of the programme, which means that building work is now expected to start between 2032 and 2034. Costs for the PAHT and Watford projects are estimated at between £1.5 and £2 billion.
Secretary of State Wes Streeting said: “The New Hospital Programme we inherited was unfunded and undeliverable. Not a single new hospital was built in the past 5 years, and there was no credible funding plan to build 40 in the next 5 years… We are setting out an honest, funded and deliverable programme to rebuild our NHS.”
A statement released by West Herts Teaching Hospitals Trust said: “We’re pleased the review into the New Hospital Programme has been completed – and the government has confirmed the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital will go ahead.
“The New Hospital Programme have also confirmed we can continue to progress our scheme, including our enabling works and retention of our project team. This will ensure we are ready to go if an earlier start date arises.
“We would have hoped for an earlier slot but understand the constraints on the public finances. We will continue to work in partnership with the New Hospital Programme to get Watford General built.”
Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, chair of PAHT, and Thom Lafferty, chief executive at PAHT, said:
“We are pleased that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting, has confirmed the government’s commitment to a new hospital for Harlow. His statement provides much-needed certainty to our people and our patients.
“The new hospital will provide an incredible opportunity to transform the care we deliver to our local populations, responding to local need.
“In the meantime, our ageing hospital estate continues to face significant and ongoing problems. Now that the start of construction for our new hospital has been delayed until 2032, we will work with system and NHS England colleagues to ensure we can maintain safe and effective facilities for our patients and staff across our current sites in the meantime.”
Dr Jane Halpin, Chief Executive of Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, added: “While it is disappointing our hospitals are not included in wave 1 of the programme, it is positive that they will be next in line to begin construction. I would like to thank patients and staff for their patience during this process and reassure them that we will continue to work together to develop plans in the intervening period.
“In the meantime, there is some great work happening across Hertfordshire and west Essex improve health and care. This includes the Community Diagnostic Centre in Welwyn Garden City which has extended its hours of operation, a new Community Diagnostic Centre at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping, the elective surgical hub in St Albans and the plans that are being developed for a proposed new facility in Hemel Hempstead.”
The revised timetable and plans for the New Hospital Programme can be found on the GOV.uk website.