The opening date for a revamped West London hospital with brand new buildings has been revealed.
Residents can expect to visit their new Hillingdon Hospital from 2033 with building expected to commence between 2027/2028 after years of delays, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.
Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth visited the hospital on Thursday (June 5) with local MP Danny Beales. She said the government commitment to delivering a new hospital remains “firm”.
Alongside the new hospital, which will meet net-zero standards, 327 residential units will be built to the east of the site. These will be predominantly 2-3 bedroom houses with an “element of affordability”.
Speaking to the LDRS, she said: “Staff are having to work in terrible conditions and it’s really bad for patients… I’m really impressed by the team we’ve got here.
“They are working at pace with the local authority, with the local community, with the staff to get this built. We are very keen to see this happen as soon as possible.”
A report published by the health watchdog on Wednesday (June 4) highlighted overall improvement, however the CQC (Care Quality Commission) however, it flagged “serious safety concerns”.
When asked whether the timeline was appropriate given the safety concerns, Smyth said: “The commitment of this government is to get on with replacing these hospitals for the future, but we understand the scale of the task.”
She added: “People know they’re paying more for worse services and it’s not acceptable the conditions that staff work in. We are very, very clear about that and we’re doing it really, really quickly.
“The practical realities around building confidence for example in the construction industry, getting the right skills in place to build these really complicated projects and I’m really impressed with the team I’ve met here today… not just the hospital but the wider community to get this built.”
She added: “These things are complicated, they do take a long time, but we are determined to make it go as fast as possible.”
Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP Danny Beales said he wants the hospital to be opened as quickly as possible.
Beales described the CQC report as “disappointing”. When asked what is being done to ensure patient safety in the meantime, he said: “One of the key things that needs to happen is the modern facilities that any member of the public and any member of staff deserve.”
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