Debate on hospital rebuild

AN event will be held in Henley next week to discuss the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust will host the meeting at Henley Rugby Club off Marlow Road on Friday from 10am to noon.

It comes as part of a series of community engagement events by Building Berkshire Together, the new hospital programme, to update residents on the progress of the redevelopment and ensure that the plans meet the needs of staff, patients, visitors and the community.

Members of the public are invited to attend to listen to the options for the changes to the hospital or its relocation. Town councillors have also been invited.

The team working on the business case application for the required funding that will be submitted to the Treasury is gathering the views of the community to help decide on a preferred option.

Programme director Alison Foster said: “It is a complicated process to get to a shortlist and we want to make sure we have the latest intelligence about what health services the local population would like to receive, where and how.

“We are working hard to reach every corner of Berkshire and South Oxfordshire to speak to communities which will use and benefit from a modern, fit-for-purpose healthcare facility to deliver excellent clinical care in the 21st century.”

The Treasury is expected to make an announcement next month.

To reserve a place at the free event, call 0118 322 6607 or email
bbt@royalberkshire.nhs.uk

A survey running in conjunction with the community events can be found at www.buildingberkshire
together.co.uk/survey

Feedback from the events and the survey will be published in the summer.