A campaign for a new hospital in south west Hertfordshire wins first stage of legal challenge.

The New Hospital Campaign has received High Court approval for a judicial review application so that Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) can consider a new hospital building instead of current plans to renovate Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals.

New Hospital Campaign have been against the plans to renovate existing hospitals, with a recent report by the group quoting Robert Scott, a construction expert, who stated the cost impact of the proposed project is much greater than building a new hospital on a clear central site.

Mr Scott also said he felt the option to build a new hospital was “terminated prematurely.”

This comes following the announcement on September 29 that wests Herts Hospital Trust is set to receive a £400 million investment from the UK government, which is proposed to be spent on a new clinical building at Watford General, refurbishments of the main block, a new multi storey car park.

Hemel Hempstead Hospital is also set to become a planned medical centre, including a newly urgent treatment centre and St Albans City Hospital would be enhanced as a planned surgical facility with a new cancer and surgical centre.

The New Hospital Campaign are appealing for financial support by the public to fund the legal case as they require £20,000. A low costs cap has been agreed by the court as it was judged to be a matter of public interest.

Edie Glatter of the New Hospital Campaign said: “We effectively have a once and for all opportunity to secure the new state-of-the-art accessible hospital that we so desperately need. The alternative would mean that we will leave a legacy of poor hospital healthcare facilities for years to come.

The decision to keep the dysfunctional Watford Hospital estate will not be reversed in the foreseeable future if the best part of £400 million is spent on it this time round. Please make a donation and support our legal challenge”.

Donations can be made through the campaign's Crowdfunder page, or sent to its dedicated bank account at:

DHAG-New Hospital Campaign

Sort Code: 30-80-49

Account Number: 34945668