BERKSHIRE’S MPs have visited the Royal Berkshire Hospital to consider its long-term future
The special briefing on Friday, September 30, hosted by The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, was held to discuss the three options for redevelopment of the hospital.
Visiting the site in person was Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading East, and Conservative’s Theresa May, MP for Maidenhead, James Sunderland, MP for Bracknell and Laura Farris. MP for Newbury.
Fellow Conservative’s Alok Sharma, Reading West MP, Sir John Redwood, MP for Wokingham and a representative for John Howell, MP for Henley, attended remotely.
The hospital, in Craven Road, serves more than 500,000 people and is the main provider of hospital services for people in the county.
The three options being considered for its future are; a full rebuild on its current site; a partial rebuild with new facilities for vital services; and an entirely new hospital built on a separate location, either in South Reading or the Thames Valley Science Park.
Those who attended in person were able to visit some of the clinical areas, meeting staff to hear first-hand the issues and challenges in delivering modern health care in an ageing facility.
Steve McManus, chief executive of the Trust, said: “A new hospital for Reading and Berkshire is vital for the health and care needs of the local population but these needs can’t be met without significant investment over the next decade.
“We are delighted that our MPs are so positive about their visit and supportive of our ambition to modernise our hospital and services.”
Mr Rodda is calling for more investment in the NHS and believes improving the hospital facilities is an important part of this.
He said: “There is a strong case for rebuilding the hospital, either on the existing site or in a new one and I am working with other local MPs to urge the Department of Health to increase spending on the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
“I also believe residents, patients and NHS staff should be involved in discussing the hospital’s future and that services should be accessible.”
Mr Rodda also expressed his desire for the hospital to remain in Reading, as well as preserving the historic front of the current building if it was rebuilt on its current site.
He added:“There would need to be a full consultation on whether to rebuild it on its current site or to consider moving to a new site in the town and transport links and accessibility would need to be considered carefully.”
A preferred option for the redevelopment, officially named Building Berkshire Together, has not yet been decided.
A consultation is taking place, where comments can be submitted on the Building Berkshire Together website.
The Trust has moved to the next stage of planning which involves submitting an Outline Business Case to the government, due in the coming months.
For more information, visit: buildingberkshiretogether.co.uk
