Agenda item

Purpose: To provide an update on funding for the New Hospitals Programme and what this means for the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Alison Foster (Programme Director) gave an update on the Building Berkshire Together New Hospital Programme (Agenda Item 8).

Members asked about what public feedback there had been in relation to the preferred location for a new hospital. It was explained that a survey carried out by the University of Reading had shown that most people were in favour of a new hospital built on a new site. The survey had not asked for possible locations, since this would be determined by availability. The survey results would be published on the Building Berkshire Together website. It was noted that access was the biggest issue raised in relation to the new hospital. Lots of work had been done around parking for the existing site, with staff moved off site and a park and ride established.

There was some discussion about whether the sale of the existing site was factored into the business case. It was confirmed that this was factored into the sum that could be raised, but not the costs. It was stressed that there would be a lot of work to make the site ready for sale. The next stage in the business case development process would involve looking at the costs of each option.

Given that redevelopment of the existing site would need to be done on a piecemeal basis, Members asked how long this would take. It was confirmed that the original proposal had been developed on the basis of being ready by 2030, but this would have required work to have started in early 2022. However, this did not take account of the new standardised approach set out in Hospital 2.0, and this would be considered as part of the next stage.

Members noted the commitment to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2030, which was 10 years ahead of the wider NHS target, and asked if any hospitals had already achieved this. The Trust recognised this was an ambitious target but confirmed that it had been developed with partners, including the University of Reading who were world leaders in this field. While no hospitals had achieved Net Zero, a small health facility in Scotland had done so. A collaboration of universities and industry partners were coming together as part of the national new hospital programme to consider this.

Members asked if funding was just for the hospital construction or if it would include a contribution to equipment. It was confirmed that there would be some provision for equipment, but the amount was not yet known. Some equipment would transfer to the new site and there may be different requirements depending on which option was progressed.

The Board noted that there had been media coverage about potential sites at Thames Valley Park and Thames Valley Science Park, which would be difficult for West Berkshire residents to access. Members asked about the status of these sites. It was explained that the Trust was in the early stages of identifying potential sites. Access was a key criterion in the assessment process. The above properties met many but not all the criteria and the next stage would be to consider public transport and parking issues. While these were currently the two highest scoring sites, it was hoped that other landowners would come forward with alternatives. West Berkshire Council had previously passed a motion that its preferred option would be a new hospital on a site that would be easy for local residents to access by public transport, but the above sites would not satisfy this criterion.

It was queried whether options had been considered to optimise integrated care across community care, primary care and secondary care rather than defaulting to rebuilding the hospital. It was confirmed that this was being considered as part of the clinical model work. Some services had already been moved to West Berkshire Community Hospital. Discussions were ongoing with primary care colleagues around future models, which were being considered in terms of both capital and ongoing revenue costs. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed that they were encouraging clinical models that improved integration where this delivered best value to the community.

Members asked if the Trust was looking at having a primary care facility associated with the site to relieve pressure on A&E. It was suggested that this could also include occupational health functions. The Trust confirmed that they had not discounted anything at this stage and that the Clinical Services Strategy would consider how the hospital interacted with primary care, the voluntary sector and local authorities.

It was suggested that one option could be to further develop the West Berkshire Community Hospital site and other community hospitals. Again, it was confirmed that no options were off the table and facilities had already been expanded at West Berkshire.

It was agreed that the Board should receive further updates as and when there were new developments to report.

RESOLVED to:

(a)  note the report; and

(b)  receive further updates as and when there were new developments to report.