Senior ministers were in Watford last week to visit the hospital and attend roundtable discussions at a college.
The health and social care secretary Victoria Atkins toured Watford General's control room, emergency department, the virtual hospital model, and reviewed the plans for the new hospital.
Mrs Atkins said she was “delighted” to meet the staff at Watford General, adding it was “wonderful news” that construction for the next hospital is scheduled to start at the end of 2026.
Plans for the new site are subject to receiving money promised by the government, but no date has been set for when the funds will be received.
Last week also saw West Herts College host education secretary Gillian Keegan and Watford MP Dean Russell on Friday, January 12.
The event highlighted the college’s dedication to modern educational practices and fostering partnerships with local businesses.
Gill Worgan, principal and chief executive at West Herts College Group, said: "It was a great opportunity to showcase how investment from government has been utilised to enhance teaching and learning through virtual reality technology, as well as supporting our partnership with the West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust which will provide new training opportunities to create routes into work for local people."
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