Future of hospital rebuild uncertain

PLANS for a new Royal Berkshire Hospital are under threat after the government announced prioritisation of hospitals with dangerous concrete.

A hospital building programme was announced in 2020 by the Conservatives when they were in power, which included the Reading hospital.

But this project was described as “undeliverable and uncosted” by Labour following their election win in July and they have launched a review.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the government wanted to “be honest with patients” and “put the programme on a sustainable footing”.

He said: “We are reassessing the rest of the programme to ensure every scheme has clear evidence of how it will be funded alongside a realistic timeline for delivery.”

Plans for the Royal Berkshire Hospital, of which parts of the building are 175 years old, are on the review list meaning plans to rebuild the hospital could be scrapped.

While part of the Royal Berkshire Hospital dates back to 1839, the site does not contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, which is susceptible to deterioration over time and compromises the safety of buildings.

In a letter to MPs shared by Clive Jones, MP for Wokingham, Mr Streeting said buildings with unsafe concrete needed to be prioritised first.

He said: “The hospitals built primarily from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete need to be replaced as a priority, to protect patient and staff safety.”

Mr Streeting added that the “hugely challenging” fiscal environment could result in the government having “to consider rephasing schemes so that they can be taken forward as fiscal conditions allow”.

Mr Jones welcomed the decision to prioritise reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete but says it is “extremely disappointing” that the Royal Berkshire will be reviewed.

He said: “I have highlighted many times in recent years that the state of some of our Royal Berkshire Hospital buildings is just not acceptable.

“This always fell on deaf ears and the Conservatives failed to act. I hope the Labour government does not do the same.

“While I welcome the decision to press onward with improvement to hospitals affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, it is concerning that hospitals like Royal Berkshire Hospital continue to be impacted by outdated, unsuitable buildings which can no longer be used.” Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo said: “I think it is really important that the new Royal Berkshire Hospital is delivered. It is clear that the Victorian age buildings are not fit for purpose.

“They are causing inefficiencies in the delivery of patient services, and staff should not have to work in crumbling and ageing buildings.

“There is a real danger in delaying the new hospital that the trust won’t secure the land necessary for development and that the opportunity will be missed and it will be pushed back further.

“It is a false economy to delay capital expenditure. We know that the Tories failed to deliver, we need to be investing and improving the efficiency of our health services.

“I will be advocating that the Royal Berkshire is very much part of the programme going forward.”

NHS bosses in charge of the new hospital have identified two new sites for Royal Berkshire Hospital, at either Thames Valley Park or Thames Valley Science Park.

Andrew Stratham, director of strategy at the hospital, recently said that he was “expecting conclusions in line with October’s budget”.

Labour MP for Caversham Matt Rodda promised to secure the new hospital during his election campaign.

He said: “I will continue to fight tooth and nail for a new Royal Berkshire Hospital. The review is only necessary because Boris Johnson’s new hospitals programme was a sham.

“Within weeks of the election, it was evident that the Conservative pledge to build 40 new hospitals, including the Royal Berkshire, was unfunded.

“Residents are rightly furious that the Conservatives promised new hospitals while covering up they had no money to pay for them.

“I share residents’ frustration about the need for the review, but we also need honesty over how a new hospital will be funded.”