Share your thoughts on criteria for new hospital
FRIMLEY Health NHS Foundation Trust is inviting patients, local people and staff to give their views about what is most important to them when choosing a site for the new state-of-the-art replacement for Frimley Park Hospital.
The current hospital needs to be replaced on a new site by 2030 because it was built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which deteriorates over time, and the NHS is required to stop using buildings made from it.
A new location is needed because attempting to build on the current Frimley Park Hospital would require a phased demolition and rebuild on a site that is already congested, causing significant disruption to patients, staff and hospital services, as well as being more expensive. It would also be impossible to complete by 2030.
The Trust’s chief executive, Neil Dardis, said: “We are delighted to have been given the green light to build a new Frimley Park Hospital by 2030 as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, and we can now start an initial period of public engagement into our plans.
“We know how important Frimley Park Hospital is for our patients, our local communities and our staff, and we have a unique opportunity to transform local healthcare for generations to come.”
The Trust said it has been identifying potential sites over recent months for the location of the new hospital. Through its research, it expects to be able to rule out those sites which are not viable over the next few months.
The Trust added it is developing the criteria it will use to assess potential sites, and is seeking views on what is important about the site for the new hospital, and why.
People have until January 7 to share their thoughts about the site evaluation criteria to ensure the project stays on track.
The Trust is holding a series of inperson and virtual events throughout this month to gather as much feedback as possible.
The in-person events are tomorrow (Thursday) at the Frimley Park Hospital Post-Graduate Education Centre (GU16 7UJ) from 6pm to 8.15pm, and on Monday (December 18) at Lakeside International Hotel, Wharf Road, Frimley Green, from noon to 2.15pm.
Virtual online events, including a presentation and Q&A session, are scheduled for Friday (December 15) from noon to 1pm, and Tuesday (December 19) from 6pm to 7pm.
There will also be a drop-in session next Wednesday at the Frimley
Park Hospital Post-Graduate Education Centre, from 6pm to 7.30pm.
A link to register for all the events is available on the FHFT website at www.fhft.nhs.uk/your-hospitals/ frimley-park/new-building-developments/
The Trust aims to gather public feedback, then agree criteria and assess and identify a preferred site option by February.
More information is available on the Trust’s website. See https://frimley.ntropydata.co.uk/frimleynew hospital to find out more.
There will also be pop-up stands in local shops and leisure centres throughout this month.
The Trust is also updating its strategy, Our Future FHFT, and people are being invited to share their thoughts on what matters most to them.
To find out more and contribute to the development of the new strategy, see www.fhft.nhs.uk/NewStrategy
The feedback will shape the organisation’s goals to the end of the decade when the new hospital will open.