NHS bosses want 'definitive answer' on hospital future

NHS bosses have said they are "very keen" for a "definitive answer" for the future of the Royal Berkshire Hospital rebuild.

A decision on whether the hospital will be rebuilt is expected to be confirmed this month following a review into the Conservatives' new hospitals programme.

The Labour government said it would carry out the review - blaming a £22bn "black hole" in the nation's finances.

Andrew Statham from Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said: "The review's been going on now for a number of months, we're very keen to get a definitive answer."

The hospital on Craven Road, Reading, could be relocated to either Thames Valley Park or Thames Valley Science Park.

Mr Statham told Wokingham Borough Council's Health and Wellbeing Board last week: "We have had no indication of what that might say or indeed how conclusive it might be."

Feedback from more than 10,000 respondents found residents were "positive" about the Royal Berkshire Hospital's potential move to either of the new sites.

They said both sites were easily accessible from the M4 and A329, but raised concerns over travel time and parking for patients, staff and visitors.

Mr Statham said none of the sites "present any insurmountable challenges", but that mitigations would be made to ensure people from more deprived communities could still access it.

Stephen Conway, leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said worries were "probably slightly higher" for Thames Valley Science Park, due to current public transport routes.

He said it could be "less of a problem" to acquire land at Thames Valley Park as there is "no real sign of a substantial uptake" from other partners.

Mr Statham concluded: "One thing that is really clear is that our current hospital is not fit for purpose."

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