Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
First steps towards new Uxbridge hospital plan
HILLINGDON HOSPITAL TRUST HOPES TO BUILD NEW HOSPITAL AT CURRENT SITE
HILLINGDON Hospital has started the first stage of its ambitious plan to build a completely new hospital in Uxbridge in just five years.
The current hospital, which has just over 500 beds, has reached the end of its life with some parts dating back to the 1930s, before the NHS even existed.
Other parts of the Pield Heath Road hospital in West London date back to the 1960s including its unattractive main building. The Trust which runs the hospital even admits it is “in a state of disrepair”.
The costs of simply repairing the building is estimated at £211 million – the second-highest maintenance cost estimate of any NHS hospital in England, meaning it now makes more financial sense to build a new hospital entirely, the Trust argues.
Subsidence at the building last year forced the Trust to close its children’s wards after being warned by structural engineers.
The Hospital Trust’s board reviewed its options at the end of July and decided to proceed with a plan that would see the old hospital replaced with a new one built on the same site, which they say can be achieved by September 2025.
An option to build the hospital on the Brunel University site was rejected as it was pricier, slower and riskier according to the board.
However new options are still being welcomed by the board as it begins the consultation process.
The plans are being formulated with a part of the £100 million NHS funding boost announced by the Prime Minister and Uxbridge MP when he took office.
The sum is being shared by 21 Trusts to come up with plans for new hospital buildings.
The Strategic Outline Case has been submitted to NHS England and a comment is expected next month. The Outline Business Case will be submitted next May and the Full Business Case the year after in May 2022.
If all stages are approved, construction could begin by July 2022 and is expected to take around three years.
The Trust will be arranging a series of engagement opportunities as part of its community conversation to to talk with patients, local residents and other relevant groups to test and develop plans further.
Camilla Wiley, Chief Nurse, from the Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have an ambitious plan to build a new hospital by 2025.
“A new hospital in Hillingdon would bring so many benefits to our staff, patients and residents and it is important that we listen to everyone on our journey towards the redevelopment.
“We very much want to hear from everyone who has an interest in the hospital, to ensure that our plans consider their ideas and aspirations.”
Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust hopes the new hospital will provide a better environment for staff and patients, fully compliant with the latest safety standards, with better connectivity between departments, greater adoption of digital technology, “significantly more” private side rooms for patients and more.
The Trust also hopes to provide green spaces, retail outlets and to crate a health and social care hub providing other facilities.
A key stated is also to provide the hospital with the ability to adapt its facilities in the face of future pandemics, and to leave sufficient capacity for future expansion.
You can view the latest information released by the Trust on their dedicated redevelopment website at thh. nhs.uk/redevelopment/plans-forthe-new-hospital/.