Matt Turmaine, MP for Watford, and Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor have shared their views on the future of Watford General Hospital.
In 2023, the Conservative government announced that Watford General Hospital was one of 40 UK hospitals which would be rebuilt, with construction planned for 2026 and a reopening in 2030.
However, since the newly elected Labour government has been in power, Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP announced that the Tory government had agreed to the plan despite it being an overspend of around £22billion in public finances.
On Friday, September 20, the government released updated guidance on the New Hospital Programme (NHP), assessing the appropriate schedule for the building of the hospitals, wider priorities surrounding the project, and a review of the spending process.
Mr Turmaine MP said: “It is clear to me, and I have also made it crystal clear to the government, that Watford’s well-prepared rebuilding scheme is at a very advanced stage and ready to go.
“The tragedy of the pause on the NHP is that the last government falsely claimed the money was there to build it, but in reality, it wasn’t.
“As a Watford resident and the town’s MP, I am in a position to and will always champion our hospital’s cause in the corridors of power.”
Mayor Taylor said: “Having waited years for investment in new facilities at Watford General, my view is that we should be getting on with these improvements, not starting yet another review. While the review takes place, the cost of this project will rise and patients and staff will have to put up with inadequate facilities.
“I have written to the Secretary of State to make the case for investing in rebuilding Watford General and for details on how long this review will last.”
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