Delay welcomed, as bosses plan healthcare

Hopes of a new hospital to serve West Hertfordshire have been revived, after NHS bosses agreed to take extra time to consider their next move.
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Mike Penning at Cheer House,Hemel Hempstead HospitalHH41
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Mike Penning at Cheer House,Hemel Hempstead Hospital
HH41 DS Mike Penning at Cheer House,Hemel Hempstead Hospital

Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which oversees healthcare across the area, met last week to consider proposals by West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust.

These proposals would mean re-building and refurbishing Watford Hospital.

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But they would also end hopes that a new hospital could be built on greenbelt land equidistant from Hemel Hempstead, Watford and St Albans.

Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, said: “NHS England have already been made aware of the lunacy of ignoring a new build hospital on a greenfield site and of the flaws in the arguments put forward against it.

“I have made my opposition to basing our long-term acute hospital facilities in Watford widely known.

“For the benefit of all the residents of West Hertfordshire, Watford as well as Hemel Hempstead and St Albans, a new purpose-built state-of-the-art, modern hospital in a central location on an available low cost site by the M25 is the best option.”

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>Don’t forget that The New Hospital Campaign will hold a public meeting in association with Dacorum Borough Council next week.

Taking place at the council’s Forum building in Marlowes from 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 22.

The petition calling for a new hospital to be built closes next month.

Sign it at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/169500