Council supports New Hospital for West Herts

Dacorum Borough Council has passed a motion to support the building of a new purpose built hospital for West Hertfordshire.

At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 25 June, councillors agreed that a new purpose built hospital at a central location was essential for the future of healthcare delivery in the borough and the wider county.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Andrew Williams, said: ‘We do not support the proposals to focus the majority of services and investment on the Watford site. We believe this will not provide an acceptable level of provision for the residents of Dacorum, which we feel would be better served by a new build – as would the needs of the wider West Herts population.

‘We also believe there should be a full range of diagnostic services at the three main towns of West Hertfordshire.’

The refurbishment of the Watford site option would mean Watford would receive 90 per cent of the funding and Hemel Hempstead just three per cent.

Councillors passed and endorsed the motion ahead of a West Herts Hospital Trust board meeting in July where a final decision regarding future health care provision is expected to be made.

A public opinion survey conducted by the Hospital Action Group, showed that 97 per cent of residents believe a new hospital is needed. Local MP Sir Mike Penning agrees.