Yesterday (Monday, January 20), Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, revealed that the reconstruction of Watford General Hospital has been delayed to at least 2032.
The Watford General Hospital rebuild was first announced in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) by the previous Conservative government in 2019, as one of 40 new hospitals across the country.
Watford Borough Council has supported the Watford General Hospital project by improving patient and staff access to the site. This includes the creation of Thomas Sawyer Access Road, the building of a multi-storey car park, granting outline planning permission, and providing land to deliver the new hospital.
Now, the reconstruction of the site has been delayed from 2032 to 2034, with a cost estimate of around £1.5billion to £2billion.
During the General Election last year, Matt Turmaine, MP for Watford, said he was “committed” to rebuilding Watford General Hospital. Health Secretary Mr Streeting MP also assured that Labour would rebuild Watford General Hospital if they won the election.
In the October edition of Watford News, it was revealed that despite the promise that Watford General Hospital’s construction was set to begin in 2026, 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.
Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “It is incredibly disappointing that the government has delayed the rebuilding of Watford General Hospital. They have announced that the rebuilding of the hospital will now not start until 2032 at the earliest.
“We have worked hard for many years on these plans. We’ve improved access to the site, made sure there is the space needed for new facilities and granted outline planning permission for this project.
“Labour politicians, including the MP for Watford, promised they would deliver this vital investment during the General Election. They now plan to break that promise.
“I know that patients, staff and so many of us will feel incredibly let down by this decision. Anyone who visits the hospital knows that this investment is desperately needed now. This prolonged delay will see the costs of the new facilities rise and mean that patients, staff and visitors have to put up with inadequate health facilities for even longer.”
Councillor Ian Stotesbury, Parliamentary spokesperson and former Watford MP candidate, said: “We had promise after promise made by the Conservatives and then explicit promises in the election by Labour politicians, now the MP and Health Secretary, that Watford General Hospital funding would be secure.
“Labour’s decision means it could be another decade before a new Watford General welcomes its first patients, and won’t delivered in this Parliament as promised. It’s nothing short of outrageous as the investments are critically overdue patients and staff deserve so much better. The local Labour election campaign simply misled the public and should apologise.”
Mr Turmaine MP has been contacted for comment.
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