The government has confirmed funding for hospital redevelopment in west Hertfordshire. We are delighted with this announcement and are extremely proud to achieve this milestone for our patients and staff.

Herts Valleys CCG and West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust have been in close communication with the Department of Health and Social Care and also our regulators, NHS England and NHS Improvement, about the public announcement of funding for the redevelopment of hospital sites in west Hertfordshire.  The allocation announced is for a sum of £400m; please note that we are still awaiting the detail behind this figure, together with written confirmation.

What is clear is that the investment will be for a sum broadly in line with the trust’s turnover and our understanding is that the funding is being made available on the basis of the proposals contained in the Strategic Outline Case – for the refurbishment and rebuild of Watford General Hospital, together with some development of the other sites in Hemel Hempstead and St Albans.

There will also be a process we need to follow – there will be further scrutiny of proposals by regulators, and the trust and CCG will be developing more detailed plans once the funding position is clearer. We will share more of the detail as this emerges.