THE team behind ambitious plans to rebuild the Royal Berkshire Hospital for the 21st century are seeking views as it prepares to draw up a shortlist of sites.
As we exclusively revealed in 2020, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is considering relocating to Shinfield, but other sites are possible such as Green Park. Alternatively, it could seek to rebuild its existing site in the heart of Reading.
Its taskforce, called Building Berkshire Together, is currently working on its business case application to the government’s New Hospital Programme scheme, and as part of the case that will go to the treasury, it is seeking views on a preferred option.
Representatives from Healthwatch, the local Councils, the University of Reading, patient representatives and community organisations have collaborated to develop a survey to help with the shortlisting process.
“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” said Alison Foster, the Building Berkshire Together programme director.
“We are working hard to reach every corner of Berkshire and South Oxfordshire to speak to communities who will use and benefit from a modern, fit for purpose, healthcare facility to deliver excellent clinical care in the 21st century.”
The Trust says it has yet to hear what the financial investment will be from the Treasury, but an announcement is expected next month.
The New Hospital Programme team are developing a national approach which is expected to reduce costs for all the new hospitals with standardised and centralised approaches to deliver economies of scale.
The survey is open until Monday, March 6, while and feedback events are being arranged in the coming weeks.
The survey is available at: www.buildingberkshiretogether.co.uk/survey. Printed copies can be requested by calling: 0118 322 6630 or emailing: bbt@royalberkshire.nhs.uk
