Whilst we can all see that care at Watford General Hospital is improving, it’s fair to say that most parts of the building are not up to standard, that’s why I’m backing plans to redevelop our hospital.

The longer we all spend looking for suitable land for a new hospital, the worse our current facilities will get. And it’s worth remembering that Watford General provides emergency and specialist services to people further afield than Watford so it’s in all our interests to see this site transformed and for patients to have first class facilities.

I have kept a close eye on the trust as it put its plans together and I know that the decision to keep Watford as the site for emergency and specialist services is the result of lengthy public engagement and detailed research.

I support their choice and that of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group who agree that Watford is the best option. This is not just because it is my local hospital but because this is the best way to deliver the kind of hospital buildings and facilities that we need in west Hertfordshire.

It’s all too easy to complain about the site and the traffic and close our eyes to the potential. Watford General is on a 10-hectare site in the heart of an exciting regeneration project and the newly reworked site would make more use of Thomas Sawyer Way and not add to congestion along Vicarage Road.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has visited Watford General Hospital several times and I have made the case for the redevelopment of our hospital. I’m ready to move forward with this, but we need a decision first.

Without a decision, I worry we will delay the rejuvenation of Watford, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead hospitals which is what I want to see and what the people of west Hertfordshire need and deserve.