Concerns about accessibility for drivers, bus passengers and walking patients have all been raised about the prospect of moving the Royal Berkshire Hospital out of Reading.
The hospital in London Road has stood since 1839, but there are challenges with the current site, with the cost of restoring it estimated at £200 million.
The Royal Berkshire Hospital was identified by the previous Conservative government’s New Hospital Programme, a promise to build 40 new hospitals by 2030.
This began the ‘Building Berkshire Together’ process by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
The preferred options are either building a new hospital on the current site or wholesale relocation to either Thames Valley Park in Earley or Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
Building Berkshire Together launched a survey in July last year about its potential relocation, with the findings from survey respondents in Reading due to be reported in a presentation to Reading Borough Council.
The presentation states: “Residents in Reading were mixed in their opinions regarding the impact of a move out of the town centre.
“One of the benefits of the current site highlighted related to the available options for public transport and the ability to walk and cycle to and from the hospital.
“Specific local challenges included those from Caversham and South Oxfordshire who noted that improvements were required to bus services whether the hospital remains at the current site or moves.”
Indeed, travel time for patients, staff and visitors and parking were the top two
concerns from residents.
Thames Valley Park is 2.2 miles from the current site, with Thames Valley Science Park being 3.7 miles from the existing hospital.
While access to the hospital was a major concern if it moved, community leaders who represented a range of patients in and around Reading acknowledged that better facilities could improve patient experience and waiting times.
Conclusions drawn from the survey are due to be presented in an update to the council’s adult social care, children’s services and education committee on Thursday, January 17.
The update to the council is due to take place amid setbacks and changes to the New Hospital Programme.
Of the 40 new hospitals promised by the previous Conservative government, only two have been completed, the Royal Liverpool Hospital opened in 2022 and the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital which opened last year.
The previous government announced in May 2023 that 32 of the 40 hospitals would be completed by 2030, with the Royal Berkshire Hospital being opened after that.
Recently, the Labour government put the New Hospital Programme ‘in review’ to determine its deliverability, with funding for each new hospital selected due to be announced in February.
Provided the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust gets the required funding, construction on the new hospital would begin in 2031.
Five hospitals were added to the programme in May 2023 due to the presence of potentially hazardous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), with the nearest of these being Frimley Park in Camberley.
