‘Conclusions’ over the future of Berkshire’s largest hospital are expected by the autumn budget, NHS bosses have said.
Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading is set to be rebuilt or relocated as part of the new hospitals programme, which promised the delivery of 40 new hospitals by 2030.
Some wards on the hospital are more than 175 years old, and it is expected to cost £200m to restore the current site.
However, the country-wide project was recently put at risk as the new Labour government announced it would review the plan to address a £22 billion ‘black hole’ in its finances.
Now, the Director of Strategy at Royal Berkshire NHS has given an update to Wokingham Borough Council in light of these developments.
Andrew Statham said at a recent Wokingham Borough Wellbeing board meeting: “The review is considering a whole range of options, from a much narrowed down programme, but also looking for different ways to secure the funding to be able to do the whole programme.”
Delivering a new hospital is expected to cost a huge £1.26 billion.
The director continued: “We’re expecting conclusions in line with October’s budget.
“In the meantime, we’re progressing with things that we had already in train. We’re coming to the end of a period of engagement we had on potential different sites.”
The Royal Berkshire NHS has identified two potential sites for the move, both within the Wokingham Borough – Thames Valley Park and Thames Valley Science Park.
Thames Valley Park is at the end of the A3290, between New Town in East Reading and Earley, while Thames Valley Science Park is off the M4 in Shinfield. Both would take the hospital out of the Reading borough, between 2.2 and 3.7 miles away from the current site on Craven Road.
8,500 people responded to the survey on sites, which Mr Statham said was ‘really great’.
Elsewhere, Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey has also been promised a rebuild – but NHS bosses are yet to reveal potential sites.
Councillor Prue Bray asked Mr Statham about staff morale at the hospital, amidst financial challenges and the review of the new hospitals programme.
Mr Statham answered: “It’s a really challenging time to work in the service, it has been for a number of years. We’re not immune to staff being under that kind of pressure, we’re working really hard to support them.”
