A CALL has been made to transplant the Royal Berkshire Hospital from Reading to Wokingham borough.
Speaking at a meeting of the executive, Wokingham Borough Council leader Cllr John Halsall said that Shinfield would be best placed for a more accessible site.
The Wokingham Conservative group has launched a petition which it can present to the government as a sign of residents’ support for the plan.
It comes days after Reading Borough Council expressed their concerns over the proposal.
In the meeting, held on Thursday, February 17, Cllr Halsall said: “We are very enthusiastic to support proposals for the RBH to relocate some or all the services to the borough, which would not only create economic opportunity, but also be integral to our health and wellbeing strategies for all our residents.”
The RBH is one of a number of hospitals that figure in the government’s plans to revamp healthcare.
The suggested site is part of a proposals to place 4,500 homes at the Hall Farm/Loddon Valley site, alongside the Thames Valley Science Park being developed by the University of Reading. The Rutherford Cancer Centre is already operating from Shinfield.
After the meeting Cllr Halsall said: “The current site for the RBH just doesn’t work – there is no room to expand facilities that are badly in need of updating.
“We believe that it makes sense for a new hospital to be built in Wokingham borough in an area with good access and the space for an expansive and modern RBH.
“If you agree with our campaign, please show your support by signing our petition.”
This view was at odds with Reading, its deputy leader, Cllr Tony Page, who said that the borough council had not yet explained how the site would be accessible by public transport, walking and cycling, and link to central Reading.
Cllr Charles Margetts, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said that moving the hospital close to the M4 would provide “good access and the right infrastructure”.
The proposal for a new site has been supported by Cllr Clive Jones, Wokingham Liberal Democrat leader, who is also an elected governor for the hospital.
He said: “Personally, I’m all in favour of it. I’ve never hidden my enthusiasm for a brand-new hospital on a new site.
“It is really important that we aim really high and try and become a teaching hospital. That way, we will attract the best consultations, and the best healthcare professionals: the best midwives, physiotherapists, occupational therapists — the best of everything.
“If we were a teaching hospital where the best, most talented people can improve themselves and improve their own learning .. that’s what I’m really keen on.”
Cllr Jones said that Green Park could also be considered for the re-location.
Andy Croy, Labour’s borough campaign lead said that it is an “absurd” petition.
“A desperate attempt by Johnson’s local Conservatives to look like they have something useful to say about an NHS the Conservatives have been underfunding for years,” he said.
“Any potential new site for the Royal Berkshire Hospital needs to consider, and the Trust will consider, a complex range of factors and scenarios.
“What we should be talking about is the crisis the Conservatives have caused in the NHS and at the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust. Almost half of the of the Trust’s patients have to wait 18 weeks for their first appointment. The average wait is 15 weeks.
“There are more than 50,000 people on the Trust’s waiting list and more than 2,000 people have been waiting for more than a year.
“These are Conservative waiting times caused by years of Conservative under investment. In addition, all over Wokingham borough people cannot get a GP appointment when they need it.”
The petition can be seen at: ipetitions.com/petition/relocate-royal-berkshire-hospital
