Sir Mike Penning, Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead, spoke in a debate on the new hospitals building programme and called for a new hospital for west Hertfordshire and full accountability of NHS Hospital Trusts. 

Sir Mike, who has long been campaigning for a new hospital on a new greenfield site, welcomed the Government’s determination to build new hospitals, but urged the Minister to make sure that the Hospital Trusts do what they are being asked to do. The West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust is rejecting a new hospital on a new site in favour of refurbishing existing buildings on the existing site. 

He said:

“In my case, the trust seems fixated with one site in the middle of a town and next to a football stadium, which by anybody’s logic would seem to be ludicrous.” 

Speaking afterwards, he added: 

“It is bonkers that the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust are wasting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to patch-up Watford instead of building a new hospital on a new site. They are worried that if they change their mind now they will be kicked out of HIP1, the Prime Minister’s first group of six new hospitals, into HIP2. To be honest, if that’s what it takes to get it right, then I say fine. It is pointless rushing ahead with the wrong solution. A year or so delay would be worth it. 

“Hemel people understand Watford people are worried about losing their hospital – we know what that is like. But this is not the same, Watford will not be closed until the new one is built and the new one would be easily accessible for people from all three towns.” 

“Patching up the run-down Watford hospital, right next to the Football Club, is the wrong decision. 

“My message to the West Herts NHS Trust - listen to the people!.”