Royal Berkshire Hospital could be moved – sites named
The Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading could move to a new site this decade, according to strategic plans.
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has examined several potential development options to help plan for the future of hospital services in Reading and the wider region in recent years.
Previously, six options had been presented for the future of Craven Road Hospital, Reading, some of which involved making improvements to the current site or simply keeping it as it is.
Now it has been reduced to three options, the most dramatic being the complete relocation of the hospital to a new site.
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One location that is being considered is Green Park in Whitley, but the hospital could even be moved outside of Reading Borough to Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield.
The prospect of moving some or all of the hospital facilities to Thames Valley Science Park is mentioned in the updated Wokingham Local Plan, which sets out the future of Wokingham Borough‘s development through 2038 .
His move to the park would make him close to the Rutherford Cancer Center and private healthcare companies Biointeractions, Clasado and Dextra Laboratories.
Alternative options include the complete reconstruction of the hospital on its current site, or a partial redevelopment to create a new emergency care block, an elective center for planned hospital care, a new center for women and children and a school. of Medicine.
The three options are shown below:
- Partial redevelopment of the current site, including a new emergency care and elective treatment center
- Major redevelopment of the current site
- Complete move to a new site in Green Park Thames Valley Science Park
The options are available on a dedicated website which you can access by clicking on this link.
Wokingham‘s local plan update ‘revised growth strategy’ document implies that some of the services at Royal Berkshire Hospital may be moved to a new location.
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Reading Borough Council Head Jason Brock said he would prefer the hospital to stay in Reading, but backed the hospital’s confidence by “exploring all possibilities”.
Cllr Brock (Labor, Southcote) said: “The Royal Berkshire Hospital presented its strategic business case at the last Reading Health and Welfare Council meeting and outlined all the options it must take into account in accordance with the requirements set by HM Treasury.
“Only one of the myriad possibilities involves moving the hospital, and the cost of such an option makes it unlikely.
“The council supports the hospital exploring all possibilities at this point and we certainly know that the hospital requires an investment from the government to secure its future for the residents of Reading and beyond.
“The borough is clearly the most sensible place for the Royal Berks, although we currently do not approve of any particular option and reserve our judgment until the process progresses.”
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Strategic planning for the future of the Royal Berkshire Hospital was undertaken as its trust is part of the government’s new hospital program.
As part of the program, the Fiducie submitted a strategic dossier (SOC) in December 2020, which has since been revised according to the three options mentioned.
The Trust is now required to submit a Business Case Analysis (OBE), which will explore the options and determine which “is best clinically and economically” for the public.
He is currently working with staff, patients, the public and other stakeholders as part of the Building Berkshire Together initiative to ensure that what is designed is fit for the future.
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Building Berkshire Together program manager Alison Foster, an employee of the Trust, said: “We recently had two successful online engagement events and there will be more in the new year to ensure that we are talking to the public and to so many patients, caregivers and staff. as we can.
“We will take the opportunity not only to advance our services for the future, but also to tackle health inequalities.
“We very much want anyone interested in the project to contact us and get involved as much or as little as they want. ”
Those interested in the future of the hospital can join the “Building Berkshire Together Network” by sending an email to [email protected]
The Local Democracy Information Service has requested a comment from Wokingham Borough Council.