Renewed call for hospital outside Watford after delay

Last week the government announced a new timetable for the New Hospital Programme which means work on the town’s hospital will not start until 2032 to 2034.

The New Hospital Campaign, which has long pushed for an alternative site outside of Watford, sees this as an opportunity to take a "proper" look at its idea.

New Hospital Campaign co-ordinator Philip Aylett. (Image: Philip Aylett) With progress on the planned location already including approved designs, a multi-storey carpark, and buying land, sticking with it could have made work there much faster to complete than starting from scratch, but the latest timeframe means a wait is built in.

Potential alternatives include open land near Kings Langley and Chiswell Green.

“Such sites could be easier and quicker and cheaper to build on than a working hospital site like Watford General,” said campaign co-ordinator Philip Aylett, who also highlighted that rebuild schemes elsewhere that were timetabled for before 2030 were all cheaper.

Watford General Hospital. “They need to think now, because they have got this long time in front of them.”

He described what he sees as inadequate attempts to look at alternative sites previously as “shameful”, but claimed there is now another opportunity for a “proper independent study of clear new sites” to find the "best value for money".

Mr Aylett also suggested more sites could now be considered given a more open government attitude to building in ‘grey belt’ land than when the Watford site was first selected.

The carpark, he said, would still be useful without the hospital given demand in the town, particularly with the Riverwell development underway nearby.

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A West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust spokesperson said: “We’re pleased the review into the New Hospital Programme has been completed – and the government has confirmed the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital will go ahead.

“The New Hospital Programme have also confirmed we can continue to progress our scheme, including our enabling works and retention of our project team. This will ensure we are ready to go if an earlier start date arises.

“We would have hoped for an earlier start but understand the constraints on the public finances. We will continue to work in partnership with the New Hospital Programme to get Watford General built.”