Presentations from:
Steve Day – Herts Valleys Hospital
Philip Aylett – New Hospital Campaign
Minutes:
Philip Aylett – New Hospital Campaign
PAylett opened the meeting by providing an overview of the New Hospital Campaign’s role, noting that they emerged from the Dacorum Health Action Group and provide expertise in a wide variety of areas including project management, building, civil engineering and public spending. The campaign takes an independent approach and is in place to challenge the Trust, with the largest hurdle being that the Trust appears to have made its mind up regarding keeping all clear new sites off the shortlist. The campaign wishes to have an unbiased appraisal of all potential sites for acute redevelopment, including clear new sites.
PAylett next looked to the Trust’s current plan for Watford, stating that it will be a 16-17 storey development of 3 large towers, though are likely to be shorter given that high buildings are already a political issue in Watford.
PAylett noted the letter from Christine Allen, CEO of West Herts Hospital Trust, dated 29th December, and suggested it contained a number of misleading statements, including the links between WHHT and Royal Free London. Cllr Bhinder noted that Christine Allen was not present at the meeting and clarified that the comments being made were a perspective of the letter. It was noted that LHalfpenny was still on the call, who commented she would not be arguing the point and was seeing the points for the first time. PAylett confirmed that the information could be made available to LHalfpenny if required.
PAylett provided an overview of what the Health Secretary had said in their meeting on 7th February, noting that he had stated it was a monumental task and that the Trust have made their decision. PAylett confirmed that the Secretary of State had listened and that there were no senior civil servants present, which he described as highly unusual and suggested that he was keeping an open mind. PAylett continued that they made a case for a new hospital on a clear new site as it is felt it is a good environment for care, that good access by road and public transport can be provided, efficient buildings can be designed for an efficient operational campus, and construction will be faster as there is less disruption. PAylett referred to Princess Alexandra Trust in Harlow who calculated that building their hospital on a clear new site would be 2 years faster than in a crowded town centre.
PAylett noted the key arguments against the acute development in Watford. Polls suggest that the ideas for building at Watford are not liked by the public. It was also noted that the Trust had not followed Treasury rules as it was admitted at meetings that officials had not done an objective assessment on the speed of the build. The acute programme development was described as subjective and high level, which PAylett described as inadequate for this sort of visit. PAylett went on to note the disruption for patients and staff at Watford during the process, stating that the Trust expect the process to take 3 years though the planning application states up to 5. PAylett commented that the Trust have lost control of costs, advising that the campaign has calculated with industry sources that the 3 towers will cost £900m to build, almost twice the amount that is currently available. It was also noted that there is uncertainty around the timetable.
PAylett next looked to Mount Vernon, stating that the decision was made on 1st October 2020 to reject all clear new sites with no reference to Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, and that moving this to Watford would be a large operation and be a complicating factor for Watford to fit it on the site. PAylett advised that in June 2021 the Mount Vernon Stakeholder Update noted that a plot of land on the Watford site had been provisionally identified on the Watford General Hospital site and could be available from 2023. PAylett noted that the site on the planning application suggest that the plot is for retail and commercial use and there is therefore conflicting information.
PAylett commented that the project is now becoming a longer-term priority and is part of the Trust’s clinical strategy up to 2026 rather than being ready for 2023 with no date given on when Mount Vernon will be brought onto the site.
Looking at the recommendation made to the Secretary of State, PAylett explained that he was told the department should commission an independent expert body to carry out a full review of options for acute redevelopment in West Herts and that the review should include options for a clear site.
In response to a question on car parking, PAylett advised that Watford have an 8-storey multistorey car park at the corner of the football ground.
Cllr Adeleke noted the Secretary of State’s comments regarding the Trust having already made their decision and asked if they would be better placed to work with the Trust to find a solution that benefits everybody. PAylett responded that the challenge was that the Trust have been very firm about their decision since 1st October 2020 when the Trust and CCG boards met and that he felt they were not interested in a compromise.
KMinier asked what they believe the Secretary of State’s next steps will be. PAylett responded that they have not heard from the New Hospital Programme or NHS about it but that they believe the New Hospital Programme will go through the papers to see if there is a case to be answered.
Cllr Hollinghurst commented that the county council owns a lot of land in the target area and that he felt it would be a good strategy to put a public hospital on public land, adding that the transaction would be likely to go through quickly. Responding to the earlier comment on car parks, Cllr Hollinghurst remarked that they need to consider planning for public transport access given that they are in the midst of a climate emergency. Cllr Bhinder responded that these points would be discussed at a future meeting.
Cllr Allen asked if many sites were equally accessible. PAylett commented that he believes a number of sites have good connections.
Steve Day – Herts Valley Hospital
SDay presented on Herts Valley Hospital by first noting that he would not be revealing the full plans in response to the Trust’s actions and that he believed there had been underhand tactics regarding the site review. SDay advised they were told by the Trust that a site review would be conducted independently and that they then heard 10 days later that the Trust had met with the CCG, Department of Health and NHS England and had agreed to proceed with the Watford option. SDay described this as disingenuous and that this was why he would not be providing the Trust with all their information. SDay looked to the vision from the Department of Health regarding a central hospital for acute services surrounded by hubs.
SDay noted 2 plots of land by the M1 and M25 and that they are in active discussions with St Albans about this, and it was noted that it is only in St Albans by a few metres and therefore still serves Dacorum well. Looking at the northern site, SDay noted an objection regarding the overhead pylons and the cost of burying them though he noted they were 500 yards from the development site and that this could be overlooked. SDay advised that the second plot is yet to be assessed but has immediate access from both the M1 and M25 as well as the dual carriageway, and whilst there is no immediate access from Dacorum, it takes half the time to drive there compared to Watford. SDay noted that there are also plans to extend the Abbey Friar either as a passing loop or to be accessed via tram.
SDay presented an unpopulated table that was presented to the Secretary of State regarding how they would deal with car parking. Cllr Bhinder asked why the form was unpopulated. SDay advised that it was sent to the Secretary of State and that the Department of Health had shared it with the Trust.
SDay next looked to the visualisation of the hospital by the Starfish team, noting that each ‘finger’ could be used for different functions and that this was still up for discussion, though with separate wings, this would allow for each wing to be built one at a time. SDay noted that the executive summary to the Secretary of State note the inclusion of aspirational services such as a mental health unit, accommodation, biodiversity and a helipad, which aren’t included in the Trust’s plan.
SDay concluded that they are looking to inspire the local community and find a solution that works for both the Trust and local community with a hospital that can be delivered faster and be more accessible.
Cllr Allen thanked both PAylett and SDay for their presentations and for speaking to the Secretary of State on the behalf of the residents.
EGlatter commented that the plan didn’t seem to suggest it would be an emergency hospital and asked where ambulances would go. SDay advised that the details are for those designing the plan. Cllr Bhinder added that it is currently a concept and not currently at the stage of a detailed plan. SDay continued that the emergency department on the ground could be just off the North Orbital with transfer wards above it. EGlatter commented that the hospital would be particularly good for Hemel Hempstead. SDay responded that it would be good for the whole area.
Cllr Bhinder asked what the opinion had been on the meeting with the Secretary of State. SDay noted that LHalfpenny was still on the call, she stated she would be prepared to leave the call if necessary, to which SDay stated he was happy for her to remain. SDay explained that the Secretary of State had listened to what they said and had committed to looking into it further.