FAQs
Could we look again at options for the best location for a new west Hertfordshire hospital rather than developing Hemel Hempstead?
We understand the strongly held views of some residents about local hospital services. The decision on the development of hospital estates in west Hertfordshire was taken in 2019 following a lengthy and detailed public process to analyse options and agree the best, most affordable solution within government spending parameters. Amidst strong competition for government funding, West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust was successful in securing funding for the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital. The government confirmed in January 2025 that the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital will go ahead by 2032. Options for changes to Hemel Hempstead Hospital are in line with our government-backed business case for hospital redevelopment in west Hertfordshire, which planned for Hemel Hempstead Hospital to be a leading centre for supporting people with long term conditions.
The approach to Hemel Hempstead Hospital is consistent with government and local plans, including the recently published NHS 10 Year Plan, to focus on developing health and care services that support people in their own homes and communities. Any options for changes in Hemel Hempstead Hospital will be to improve the health and wellbeing of residents in the Dacorum area and beyond, with a focus on outpatient, diagnostic and other care services.
Does the Hemel Hempstead health facility have to follow the same timing as the development of Watford General Hospital, which is due to start in 2032?
The Hemel Hempstead health facility is part of the overall agreed plans for hospital development in west Hertfordshire and is interrelated with the Watford General Hospital development, but it is a development in its own right. It will be funded separately to Watford Hospital which will be funded through the government’s New Hospital Programme. We can therefore progress work to develop options for Hemel Hempstead independent of the Watford Hospital development.
How much will this cost, and would it be better to spend money on refurbishing the Hemel Hempstead Hospital rather than building a new health campus in the town centre?
As part of developing the Strategic Outline Case (SOC), we will produce costs for refurbishing Hemel Hempstead Hospital and options for developing a new town centre health campus. The SOC will test whether developing a health campus will provide value for money and is a better option for local patients compared to options for refurbishing Hemel Hempstead Hospital. The SOC will also outline how these options would be financed.
If you were to deliver services on a different site, would all Hemel Hospital services be transferred to this new site?
The Strategic Outline Case (SOC) is exploring options to relocate existing outpatient, diagnostic and urgent care services provided at Hemel Hospital to a new health campus. It will explore how GP and mental health and community services could work together within the health campus. The SOC will also include options for inclusion of rehabilitation beds in a new facility, or reprovision of those beds.
Is the Market Square site of sufficient size enough and does it have adequate parking?
The feasibility study carried out in 2023 to look at the potential for the Market Square site indicated that this could accommodate a new health facility big enough to deliver key hospital and other health and care services. The Strategic Outline Case will include ‘high level spatial planning’ for the Market Square site, providing particular attention to how it integrates with street access, relationship to existing buildings and the Water Gardens.
The feasibility study also considered parking requirements and the assessment at the time was that there would be adequate provision within the Water Gardens Car Park. If there was a decision to take forward the Market Square site, this would be accompanied by a new parking and access strategy.
Would provision of a new health campus mean that Hemel Hempstead Hospital will close?
If it was proposed to proceed with Hemel Health Campus on Market Square, some or all of the land and buildings on the Hemel Hempstead Hospital site would be sold to build residential properties.
What will happen to the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Hemel Hempstead Hospital?
The UTC will be retained under all options being considered, as it is a vital part of health provision for local people. If there is a decision to develop a new health facility on the proposed site in Market Square the UTC would relocate there.
Will there be a public consultation on these plans?
The local NHS has previously carried out an extensive programme of patient and public engagement to agree the model of hospital care in West Hertfordshire that went into the government approved business case for hospital investment in 2019. This established that Hemel Hempstead Hospital would focus on planned medical care, including supporting patients with long term conditions (as well as providing an Urgent Treatment Centre). The current proposals for future provision in Hemel Hempstead are in line with that model. They include the added opportunity to locate and integrate other neighbourhood services e.g. mental health and GP services, in the same building.
In the context of that previous work, the local NHS has reached a shared view with NHS England as our regulator, that our current approach to engagement provides the right level of opportunity for local residents to give their views on the proposed Health Campus vision at this early stage.
The local NHS is also formally engaging with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Health Scrutiny Committee to ensure that they are satisfied that our approach to public involvement is giving the right level of voice to local people and communities at all stages of the business planning and decision-making process.
We will continue to review our patient and public involvement approach as we develop options.