National health chiefs have in effect "paused" plans to redevelop Watford General Hospital as they prioritise other schemes.

West Herts Hospital Trust’s board was presented with a report outlining the latest development at a meeting last week.

It has also emerged that the Trust will "stand down" all external advisory support – such as architects – connected with the plans from the end of this month.

It has used professionals to help with the design and cost planning but says that cannot continue until more funding for its business case is confirmed.

Back in October 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged £400m for the Watford redevelopment.

Trust bosses have since submitted an outline planning application to redevelop the Watford General site off Vicarage Road – including three landmark blocks of up to 18-storeys.

It is among dozens of hospitals nationwide hoping to be funded as part of the government’s New Hospital Programme (NHP). 

But despite the PM’s pledge, no firm funding decision has yet been taken by the NHP.

And the Trust – which is yet to submit a formal outline business case – is working to timescales set by the NHP.

Now board members have been told that the NHP is focussing on earlier phases of the national programme – dubbed ‘live schemes’ and ‘agile schemes’.

It means ‘pathfinder schemes’ – of which Watford is one – are "receiving less attention".

“The NHP focus is currently on phase 1 (live schemes) and 2 (agile schemes) and on the development of a programme business case for submission to the Treasury,” says the assurance report that was presented to a WHHT board meeting on Thursday (December 2).

“As such, work with pathfinders and full follower schemes is receiving less attention and effectively remains on pause.”

Following the meeting, deputy chief executive Helen Brown said the Trust could only go as quickly as the national programme allowed.

She added bosses hope to re-engage external advisors as soon as the funds were available to do so.