NHS bosses have said they are ‘very keen’ for a ‘definitive answer’ for the future of the Royal Berkshire Hospital rebuild.
A decision on whether the hospital will be rebuilt is expected to be confirmed this month following a review into the Conservatives’ new hospitals programme.
The Labour government said it would review funding for it and blamed a £22bn ‘black hole’ in the nation’s finances, offering ‘realistic, deliverable and affordable footing’ for the scheme.
The hospital on Craven Road, Reading, could be relocated to either Thames Valley Park or Thames Valley Science Park, both within the Wokingham borough.
Andrew Statham from Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust told Wokingham Borough Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board on Thursday, January 9: “We have had no indication of what that might say or indeed how conclusive it might be or specific at the point at which its announced.
“The reviews been going on now for a number of months, we’re very keen to get a definitive answer.”
Feedback from more than 10,000 respondents found residents were “positive” about the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s potential move to either of the new sites.
Respondents said both sites were easily accessible from the M4 and A329, but raised concerns over travel time and parking for patients, staff and visitors.
Mr Statham said none of the sites ‘present any insurmountable challenges’, but that mitigations would be made to ensure people from more deprived communities could still access it.
Leader of Wokingham Borough Council Stephen Conway suggested that worries were ‘probably slightly higher’ for Thames Valley Science Park, due to current public transport routes.
Cllr Conway added that it could be ‘less of a problem’ to acquire land at Thames Valley Park as there is ‘no real sign of a substantial uptake’ from other partners.
Whereas Thames Valley Science Park, owned by the University of Reading, is in the process with building partnerships with the Natural History Museum and British Museum.
Speaking on the potential outcome of the review, Mr Statham said the ‘outward message could be one of delay’. But he added that the trust were already under the assumption they would be building ‘from 2030 onwards’.
Mr Statham continued: “There could be further delay messages but still a really firm promises to our residents that they get their whole new hospital, and there could be other outcomes.
“One thing that is really clear is that our current hospital is not fit for purpose.”
