I would like to reassure your readers that the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital is very much at the top of our agenda.

Recent comments suggest the council’s plans for the Watford Health Campus are at the expense of or instead of plans to improve the hospital estate.

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This is not the case. It is in our interests to see the housing, industrial and retail aspects of the campus proceed and succeed and we are pressing ahead with a bid for central government money to move our own plans closer towards becoming a reality.

Although the council-led project and our plans are separate – we are linked by an agreement to use the whole site to its best advantage for all parties. This allows us all some additional flexibility and also builds in some sharing of profits and costs.

While some housing may spring up before new hospital buildings, we hope not to be too far behind including improving our car parking.

Our “strategic outline case” (SOC) recommends redeveloping emergency and specialised care services at Watford General Hospital and further developing planned care services at St Albans City Hospital. Hemel Hempstead hospital will be redeveloped to provide local hospital services as well as enhanced primary and community care services.

I invite Watford Observer readers to consider the pros and cons of the choices we and our stakeholders have weighed up as set out in our strategic outline case (SOC).

This is an important milestone in the pursuit of funding for better buildings to enhance the experience of patients and our hard-working staff. The SOC is part of our public board papers on our website www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk

Katie Fisher, chief executive officer at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust