Health Secretary Sajid Javid says "no final decision" has been made on plans to rebuild Watford General Hospital, following a meeting with campaigners earlier this year.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust wants to redevelop and keep its main facilities in Watford but doing so as well as investing in St Albans and Hemel Hempstead hospitals could cost over £1 billion.

The proposals are part of the government’s New Hospital Programme, which committed at least £3.7bn to fund new hospital developments across the country. The trust's rising costs has been attributed to inflation, and could increase further by the time work starts in 2024.

Watford Observer: CGI of what a rebuilt Watford General could look like in the form of three blocks including one up to 17 storeys. Credit: BDP/West Herts NHS TrustCGI of what a rebuilt Watford General could look like in the form of three blocks including one up to 17 storeys. Credit: BDP/West Herts NHS Trust (Image: BDP/West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust)

Campaigners for a new hospital on a greenfield site have questioned whether the NHS trust would be able to afford the plans and met with Health Secretary Sajid Javid in February, alongside Hemel Hempstead MP Sir Mike Penning, to discuss their preferred choice.

Watford Observer: Health Secretary Sajid Javid pictured with people calling for a hospital to be built away from Watford including Hemel Hempstead MP Sir Mike PenningHealth Secretary Sajid Javid pictured with people calling for a hospital to be built away from Watford including Hemel Hempstead MP Sir Mike Penning

Following the meeting, it was claimed Mr Javid would scrutinise the decision but the trust said last month it had received no correspondence from the Health Secretary.

And on a visit to the New Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Welwyn Garden City today (April 6), Mr Javid was unable to offer any update.

The Health Secretary ducked a question about whether the trust would be able to spend £1 billion on its current proposals, and if the Department of Health and Social Care would be reviewing a decision to rebuild Watford General.

After a question about whether the NHS Trust would be provided the necessary funding to carry out their plans in full or may be asked to trim back proposals, the minister said: "We are investing record amounts into our New Hospital Programme, we’ve already announced 40 new hospitals and we are going to add, later in the year, eight more hospitals to that programme. We are in discussion locally here with West Herts NHS Trust and looking carefully at the plans."

Watford Observer:

In response to a follow-up question about whether the meeting with campaigners has affected his view, Mr Javid added: "It’s important to meet with local people, I was really pleased to meet with Sir Mike Penning and others and we’ll take that into account but as yet there’s no final decision."

The NHS trust’s preferred option will see emergency care provided from a new Watford General, which is expected to cost £940m, while planned care provided at Hemel Hempstead and St Albans City hospitals, with refurbishments costing £140m.

Watford Observer: Another CGI of what a rebuilt Watford General could look like Another CGI of what a rebuilt Watford General could look like

Last month, outgoing Deputy CEO Helen Brown said there was no evidence a new hospital would be more cost-effective, and said there is a "spectrum of options" to discuss with central government if their preferred option is not backed. 

An outline business case is expected to be submitted for consideration before the end of the year.