Royal Berkshire Hospital ‘reviews options’ after government keeps it’s Reading site in redevelopment plans
The Royal Berkshire Hospital says it is progressing with plans to redevelop the site, writes Niki Hinman and Hinna Aamani.
The Government last week confirmed the redevelopment of the RBH as part of the New Hospital Programme.
Making the announcement, Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay said it would additionally benefit from a mental health crisis facility which will be opened later this year.
But the trust responsible for the hospital said it is still reviewing options.
“As the Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay announced in the Commons, the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital is still part of the rolling new hospital programme and we are in ‘active discussions’ about the work and the complexities of the site," said a hospital spokesperson.
"As these talks continue, we are progressing our outline business case which will review the options and also pushing ahead with enabling works to ensure we are in a strong position to proceed with the redevelopment as soon as practicable.
"Our priority is to deliver safe and outstanding care to our patients and we are committed to ensuring they continue to receive the best possible treatment as this work progresses.
"We will continue to work closely with our system partners and will involve and engage with our staff, patients, key stakeholders and local people to ensure that when the time comes we will deliver next generation care from the best possible healthcare facilities.”
This news was welcomed in Parliament by Newbury MP Laura Farris who asked Mr Barclay for a guarantee on the hospital’s future.
She also asked him for more information on next steps to “reassure [her] constituents as to what lies ahead”.
She told Newburytoday: “The Royal Berks is the nearest general hospital for many of my constituents and I am genuinely excited about the scale and ambition for its redevelopment.
“That said, there are some localised issues with the Royal Berks site.
“Part of it is Grade I listed and there are some structural complexities.
“Nonetheless, I have seen the plans and the reality is that we can look forward to state-of-the-art medical facilities in what will be one of the most exciting new hospitals in the country.”
She added: “This is great news for many of my constituents in West Berkshire and I will be working with the Department of Health and the hospital to progress these plans.”
Last year West Berkshire Council voted to back the new build option for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
The council adopted a motion tabled by Alan Macro (Lib Dem, Theale) that its preferred option is the building of a new hospital on a new site that is readily accessed by West Berkshire residents by both private and public transport.
The other option is to redevelop the existing site, and the council heard that could cost between £750m and £950m, with the new build likely to be north of £1.3bn.
The council agreed that the current RBH site is difficult for West Berkshire residents to get to by public transport, and that parking when there is both difficult and expensive.
Possible locations for a new hospital include Green Park, a site near the Select Car Leasing [formerly Madejski] Stadium or the Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
Alternative options include completely rebuilding the hospital at its current site, or a partial redevelopment to create a new emergency care block, an elective centre for planned hospital care, a new women’s and children’s facility, and a medical school.
The RBH is one of 40 new hospital building projects earmarked for Department of Health investment over the next ten years.
Funding of £800m has also been awarded for a new hospital in Basingstoke.
The Royal Berkshire Hospital says it is progressing with plans to redevelop the site.
The Government last week confirmed the redevelopment of the RBH as part of the New Hospital Programme.
Making the announcement, Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay said it would additionally benefit from a mental health crisis facility which will be opened later this year.
But the trust responsible for the hospital said it is still reviewing options.
“As the Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay announced in the Commons, the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital is still part of the rolling new hospital programme and we are in ‘active discussions’ about the work and the complexities of the site," said a hospital spokesperson.
"As these talks continue, we are progressing our outline business case which will review the options and also pushing ahead with enabling works to ensure we are in a strong position to proceed with the redevelopment as soon as practicable.
"Our priority is to deliver safe and outstanding care to our patients and we are committed to ensuring they continue to receive the best possible treatment as this work progresses.
"We will continue to work closely with our system partners and will involve and engage with our staff, patients, key stakeholders and local people to ensure that when the time comes we will deliver next generation care from the best possible healthcare facilities.”
This news was welcomed in Parliament by Newbury MP Laura Farris who asked Mr Barclay for a guarantee on the hospital’s future.
She also asked him for more information on next steps to “reassure [her] constituents as to what lies ahead”.
She told Newbury Today: “The Royal Berks is the nearest general hospital for many of my constituents and I am genuinely excited about the scale and ambition for its redevelopment.
“That said, there are some localised issues with the Royal Berks site.
“Part of it is Grade I listed and there are some structural complexities.
“Nonetheless, I have seen the plans and the reality is that we can look forward to state-of-the-art medical facilities in what will be one of the most exciting new hospitals in the country.”
She added: “This is great news for many of my constituents in West Berkshire and I will be working with the Department of Health and the hospital to progress these plans.”
Last year West Berkshire Council voted to back the new build option for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
The council adopted a motion tabled by Alan Macro (Lib Dem, Theale) that its preferred option is the building of a new hospital on a new site that is readily accessed by West Berkshire residents by both private and public transport.
The other option is to redevelop the existing site, and the council heard that could cost between £750m and £950m, with the new build likely to be north of £1.3bn.
The council agreed that the current RBH site is difficult for West Berkshire residents to get to by public transport, and that parking when there is both difficult and expensive.
Possible locations for a new hospital include Green Park, a site near the Select Car Leasing [formerly Madejski] Stadium or the Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
Alternative options include completely rebuilding the hospital at its current site, or a partial redevelopment to create a new emergency care block, an elective centre for planned hospital care, a new women’s and children’s facility, and a medical school.
The RBH is one of 40 new hospital building projects earmarked for Department of Health investment over the next ten years.
Funding of £800m has also been awarded for a new hospital in Basingstoke.
The Royal Berkshire Hospital says it is progressing with plans to redevelop the site.
The Government last week confirmed the redevelopment of the RBH as part of the New Hospital Programme.
Making the announcement, Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay said it would additionally benefit from a mental health crisis facility which will be opened later this year.
But the trust responsible for the hospital said it is still reviewing options.
“As the Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay announced in the Commons, the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital is still part of the rolling new hospital programme and we are in ‘active discussions’ about the work and the complexities of the site," said a hospital spokesperson.
"As these talks continue, we are progressing our outline business case which will review the options and also pushing ahead with enabling works to ensure we are in a strong position to proceed with the redevelopment as soon as practicable.
"Our priority is to deliver safe and outstanding care to our patients and we are committed to ensuring they continue to receive the best possible treatment as this work progresses.
"We will continue to work closely with our system partners and will involve and engage with our staff, patients, key stakeholders and local people to ensure that when the time comes we will deliver next generation care from the best possible healthcare facilities.”
This news was welcomed in Parliament by Newbury MP Laura Farris who asked Mr Barclay for a guarantee on the hospital’s future.
She also asked him for more information on next steps to “reassure [her] constituents as to what lies ahead”.
She told Newbury Today: “The Royal Berks is the nearest general hospital for many of my constituents and I am genuinely excited about the scale and ambition for its redevelopment.
“That said, there are some localised issues with the Royal Berks site.
“Part of it is Grade I listed and there are some structural complexities.
“Nonetheless, I have seen the plans and the reality is that we can look forward to state-of-the-art medical facilities in what will be one of the most exciting new hospitals in the country.”
She added: “This is great news for many of my constituents in West Berkshire and I will be working with the Department of Health and the hospital to progress these plans.”
Last year West Berkshire Council voted to back the new build option for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
The council adopted a motion tabled by Alan Macro (Lib Dem, Theale) that its preferred option is the building of a new hospital on a new site that is readily accessed by West Berkshire residents by both private and public transport.
The other option is to redevelop the existing site, and the council heard that could cost between £750m and £950m, with the new build likely to be north of £1.3bn.
The council agreed that the current RBH site is difficult for West Berkshire residents to get to by public transport, and that parking when there is both difficult and expensive.
Possible locations for a new hospital include Green Park, a site near the Select Car Leasing [formerly Madejski] Stadium or the Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
Alternative options include completely rebuilding the hospital at its current site, or a partial redevelopment to create a new emergency care block, an elective centre for planned hospital care, a new women’s and children’s facility, and a medical school.
The RBH is one of 40 new hospital building projects earmarked for Department of Health investment over the next ten years.
Funding of £800m has also been awarded for a new hospital in Basingstoke.
The Royal Berkshire Hospital says it is progressing with plans to redevelop the site.
The Government last week confirmed the redevelopment of the RBH as part of the New Hospital Programme.
Making the announcement, Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay said it would additionally benefit from a mental health crisis facility which will be opened later this year.
But the trust responsible for the hospital said it is still reviewing options.
“As the Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay announced in the Commons, the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital is still part of the rolling new hospital programme and we are in ‘active discussions’ about the work and the complexities of the site," said a hospital spokesperson.
"As these talks continue, we are progressing our outline business case which will review the options and also pushing ahead with enabling works to ensure we are in a strong position to proceed with the redevelopment as soon as practicable.
"Our priority is to deliver safe and outstanding care to our patients and we are committed to ensuring they continue to receive the best possible treatment as this work progresses.
"We will continue to work closely with our system partners and will involve and engage with our staff, patients, key stakeholders and local people to ensure that when the time comes we will deliver next generation care from the best possible healthcare facilities.”
This news was welcomed in Parliament by Newbury MP Laura Farris who asked Mr Barclay for a guarantee on the hospital’s future.
She also asked him for more information on next steps to “reassure [her] constituents as to what lies ahead”.
She told Newbury Today: “The Royal Berks is the nearest general hospital for many of my constituents and I am genuinely excited about the scale and ambition for its redevelopment.
“That said, there are some localised issues with the Royal Berks site.
“Part of it is Grade I listed and there are some structural complexities.
“Nonetheless, I have seen the plans and the reality is that we can look forward to state-of-the-art medical facilities in what will be one of the most exciting new hospitals in the country.”
She added: “This is great news for many of my constituents in West Berkshire and I will be working with the Department of Health and the hospital to progress these plans.”
Last year West Berkshire Council voted to back the new build option for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
The council adopted a motion tabled by Alan Macro (Lib Dem, Theale) that its preferred option is the building of a new hospital on a new site that is readily accessed by West Berkshire residents by both private and public transport.
The other option is to redevelop the existing site, and the council heard that could cost between £750m and £950m, with the new build likely to be north of £1.3bn.
The council agreed that the current RBH site is difficult for West Berkshire residents to get to by public transport, and that parking when there is both difficult and expensive.
Possible locations for a new hospital include Green Park, a site near the Select Car Leasing [formerly Madejski] Stadium or the Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
Alternative options include completely rebuilding the hospital at its current site, or a partial redevelopment to create a new emergency care block, an elective centre for planned hospital care, a new women’s and children’s facility, and a medical school.
The RBH is one of 40 new hospital building projects earmarked for Department of Health investment over the next ten years.
Funding of £800m has also been awarded for a new hospital in Basingstoke.
The Royal Berkshire Hospital says it is progressing with plans to redevelop the site.
The Government last week confirmed the redevelopment of the RBH as part of the New Hospital Programme.
Making the announcement, Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay said it would additionally benefit from a mental health crisis facility which will be opened later this year.
But the trust responsible for the hospital said it is still reviewing options.
“As the Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay announced in the Commons, the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital is still part of the rolling new hospital programme and we are in ‘active discussions’ about the work and the complexities of the site," said a hospital spokesperson.
"As these talks continue, we are progressing our outline business case which will review the options and also pushing ahead with enabling works to ensure we are in a strong position to proceed with the redevelopment as soon as practicable.
"Our priority is to deliver safe and outstanding care to our patients and we are committed to ensuring they continue to receive the best possible treatment as this work progresses.
"We will continue to work closely with our system partners and will involve and engage with our staff, patients, key stakeholders and local people to ensure that when the time comes we will deliver next generation care from the best possible healthcare facilities.”
This news was welcomed in Parliament by Newbury MP Laura Farris who asked Mr Barclay for a guarantee on the hospital’s future.
She also asked him for more information on next steps to “reassure [her] constituents as to what lies ahead”.
She told Newbury Today: “The Royal Berks is the nearest general hospital for many of my constituents and I am genuinely excited about the scale and ambition for its redevelopment.
“That said, there are some localised issues with the Royal Berks site.
“Part of it is Grade I listed and there are some structural complexities.
“Nonetheless, I have seen the plans and the reality is that we can look forward to state-of-the-art medical facilities in what will be one of the most exciting new hospitals in the country.”
She added: “This is great news for many of my constituents in West Berkshire and I will be working with the Department of Health and the hospital to progress these plans.”
Last year West Berkshire Council voted to back the new build option for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
The council adopted a motion tabled by Alan Macro (Lib Dem, Theale) that its preferred option is the building of a new hospital on a new site that is readily accessed by West Berkshire residents by both private and public transport.
The other option is to redevelop the existing site, and the council heard that could cost between £750m and £950m, with the new build likely to be north of £1.3bn.
The council agreed that the current RBH site is difficult for West Berkshire residents to get to by public transport, and that parking when there is both difficult and expensive.
Possible locations for a new hospital include Green Park, a site near the Select Car Leasing [formerly Madejski] Stadium or the Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
Alternative options include completely rebuilding the hospital at its current site, or a partial redevelopment to create a new emergency care block, an elective centre for planned hospital care, a new women’s and children’s facility, and a medical school.
The RBH is one of 40 new hospital building projects earmarked for Department of Health investment over the next ten years.
Funding of £800m has also been awarded for a new hospital in Basingstoke.
