The money will be used to deliver the next phase of preparing the site for the new building, and fund a Project team to drive forward the project.
In January this year, the government announced its review into the New Hospital Programme (NHP), providing a new timetable for delivering the schemes countrywide. Ministers confirmed Watford General would be funded and rebuilt. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says negotiations have been continuing with the NHP on two key aspects: moving ahead with enabling works to prepare the site, and retaining a Project team to progress this.
Following confirmation that the NHP had committed £11.86 million for the next phase of works, Matthew Coats, CEO at WHTH, said: “This marks a major step forward in our project, and a sign of confidence from the government in our plans. We now have the money we need for this year to continue our preparations for the main build. The cash will be used to deliver new power supplies for the site, remove the Granger Ward, and demolish the Pathology and Medical Assessment Unit buildings.
“The funding will also support a Project team to drive forward this critical next stage of redeveloping the hospital – something many other schemes have not been granted. Huge progress has been made on the site over the last few years. We have the land to build on, well-developed plans, and the support of local and national stakeholders. We want to be ready to go if an earlier slot does become available – and agreeing the enabling works will help strengthen our case further.”