Sajid Javid to look at west Herts hospital decision
Mike Penning MP led a delegation to meet with Health Secretary Sajid Javid. - Credit: Mike Penning's office
Health Secretary Sajid Javid is to look into a decision to block a new hospital on a central site in west Herts.
The announcement follows a meeting with an expert delegation highlighting issues with West Hertfordshire NHS Trust’s choice of Watford General for a redeveloped acute hospital.
Mr Javid will now ask the Trust how they came to make their decision to rule out a new site in 2020.
Hemel Hempstead MP Sir Mike Penning, who led the delegation, welcomed the Health Secretary’s response: “I am very glad that Sajid has shown such an open mind. He listened to some very powerful evidence from experts in building, design and finance - several of them my constituents. We told him how much the trust has cut corners in forcing through the Watford General decision. He was interested to hear about new designs that might work especially well on a clear new site.
“There are so many reasons why the whole of west Herts would benefit from a truly new hospital on a clear site to fulfil the Government’s promise in 2019 – for instance good access for everyone, cheaper, speedy construction and a greener environment.
Sir Mike added: “We will be sending Sajid a dossier of information detailing how public spending rules have been bent in making the case for Watford General. The dossier will also show the opportunities for building in a sustainable way on one of a number of potential greenfield sites which would offer good access and a great environment for everyone in west Hertfordshire. We hope he will ask the Department of Health and the trust to look again at their decision.”
Philip Aylett, co-ordinator of the local New Hospital Campaign (NHC) who attended the meeting, said: “The trust refused, on very shaky evidence, to carry out a proper economic appraisal of any new clear site in 2020. The trust failed to follow public spending rules and the costs and timings of the project are now out of control."
Most Read
- 1 Katherine Ryan and Romesh Ranganathan spotted filming in St Albans
- 2 How the extent of cost of living crisis hit home at St Albans' CEX store
- 3 Hertfordshire grandad who died in A6 Bugatti crash had a 'generous spirit'
- 4 From Levi's to Leyton Road: Superstar fashionista for over 50s back on shop floor
- 5 Fire broke out at flats above row of shops in How Wood
- 6 BBC 5 Live football podcast recorded at 'Britain's oldest pub' in St Albans
- 7 Meet the artist behind The Queen's Platinum Jubilee mural in St Albans
- 8 Campaign to keep Chiswell 'green' gains momentum
- 9 Met Office weather: Yellow storm and flood warning for East of England
- 10 Mr Motorsports - the St Albans lawyer with F1 flair
A spokesperson for West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We’re very happy to share our rationale for ruling out a new site in favour of retaining and redeveloping our three hospitals. Our decision was driven by the need to deliver new and better buildings in the shortest timeframe possible."
