Watford Hospital gets £400 million boost

The government has pledged billions for hospital projects across England, at the start of the Conservative party conference.

Peter Taylor Watford’s Mayor tweeted “I welcome today’s announcement by the government to invest £400m in better facilities at Watford General.
Watford LibDems have taken tough decisions to improve access to our hospital & provide space for this. This investment is needed now – for patients and the fantastic NHS staff”

West Hers NHS Phil Townsend said: “I’m extremely proud of the team
west herts nhs who have worked relentlessly and collaboratively with our commissioners to achieve this milestone for our staff and patients.”

A new approach to NHS mental health treatment will also be trialled in 12 areas of England – with housing and job support alongside psychological help.

The government says £70m is also being invested in the mental health pilot areas, with the NHS building more ties with charities and local councils.

Way down west Cornwall is getting £450million to build a new hospital.

‘State-of-the-art hospitals’

Under plans drawn up by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, £13bn will be spent on either entirely new buildings or revamping existing structures to improve facilities.

Mr Hancock said the funding would come from taxpayers, rather than PFI contracts whereby private firms fund the cost of building facilities and, in return, the state makes payments over a stipulated period of time for their use and management.

The six hospital trusts to benefit from the £2.7bn in funding are:

• Whipps Cross Hospital, in Leytonstone, east London
• Epsom and St Helier Trust
• West Hertfordshire Trust
• Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust
• University Hospitals of Leicester Trust
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.

Mr Hancock told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that funding for these six trusts was in place so building work could begin “straight away”.

A further 34 hospitals will receive £100m in initial funding to start developing projects, including Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham and the North Manchester General Hospital.