Decision on hospital rebuild expected within weeks

The fate of a hospital's rebuild is expected to be confirmed soon, after bosses warned they were "losing the battle" against a constant need for repairs.

The Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading was due to be rebuilt at a new location under the previous Conservative government's new hospitals programme but it never received funding.

The Labour government said it would review funding for it and blamed a £22bn "black hole" in the nation's finances.

A report to a Berkshire council notes the outcome of the government's review is expected in February.

While some hospitals made with Raac concrete were exempt from the review in September, little was announced on the £1.26bn project for the Reading hospital.

The government has said its review will put the project for the country's hospitals on a "realistic, deliverable and affordable footing".

Feedback from more than 10,000 respondents found residents were "positive" about the Royal Berkshire Hospital's potential move to either Thames Valley Park or Thames Valley Science Park, both within the Wokingham borough.

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

But both sites would allow for infrastructure updates and modern facilities, and would not negatively impact the environment or biodiversity, according to the report.

It would also provide "significant economic benefits" to the area, generating £26m in construction jobs alone. Local businesses were said to be "generally positive or neutral" about proposals.

Hospital bosses warned in October they were "losing the battle" against a constant need for repairs of the site, parts of which are 175 years old.

Fifty operations were cancelled in 18 months due to estate disrepair, including power cuts, leaking roofs and collapsed ceilings.

Lib Dem MP for Wokingham Clive Jones said the rebuild was "urgent and unavoidable". Labour's Matt Rodda, Olivia Bailey and Yuan Yang all pledged to deliver the hospital during their general election campaign.

They represent Reading Central, Reading West and Mid Berkshire and Earley and Woodley, respectively.

Project managers Building Berkshire Together will present the report to Wokingham Borough Council's Health and Wellbeing Board on Thursday.

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