Several planned new hospitals in the East of England have taken a "great step forward", but Watford General has not been included.
While this may come as disappointing news, it does not indicate a further delay to the long-awaited project, as Watford's new hospital remains in phase two of the government's New Hospitals Programme and therefore was never going to be part of this week's announcement.
Five trusts in the region have taken the significant step of agreeing partnerships with construction firms, with NHS England’s director of strategy and transformation in the east Simon Wood saying: "This is a great step forward for all of our hospitals in the first group of the government’s New Hospital Programme.
"Having access to an appointed contractor and working alongside them to finalise the designs of the new sites should speed up the process from this point and optimise the designs, for the benefit of all patients who will be users of those hospitals in the future.”
When asked what the non-inclusion meant for Watford, a spokesperson for the West Herts Trust said: "Work is currently underway at the hospital on a £12 million enabling project to prepare the site for the new hospital we all want and need.
"Under the proposals, the new Watford General would be a combined scheme which would include the relocation of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre on the same site, creating a world-class cancer centre alongside the hospital. A public consultation was held on these proposals earlier this year and a final decision is due later in the year."
The project extension means efficiencies could be made through joint construction, they added, which would cut costs for both hospitals.
"Huge progress has been made on the site over the last few years," the spokesperson added. "We have the land to build on, our plans are well developed, and we have the support of local and national stakeholders. We want to be a position where we are ready to go if an earlier slot does become available."
- Bushey man to face trial over 'indecent child images and extreme pornography'
- Watford family leads calls for Burnham to meet bereaved over helicopter crash inquiry
It remains the case that the hospital is not set to start being built until 2032, which has drawn criticism from some, including the town's Liberal Democrat mayor.
When asked about the timeline last year, Watford's Labour MP Matt Turmaine said: "I can understand that people are frustrated that they have been waiting for a long time as I am one of those people, having lived here for ten years."
The first phase of the project - with hospitals that are set to begin construction by 2030 - is targeted at those with RAAC concrete.
Share