The trust, working with planning experts, envisages a new, taller, building on about one-fifth of the site, bringing all the hospital’s services closer together under one roof. The remainder of the estate would be released for much-needed new homes and community facilities.
The size of the site – equivalent to around 25 football pitches – offers a unique opportunity. The Government announced on Sunday 29 September that it will invest in a new hospital at Whipps Cross.
Responding to the announcement, Alwen Williams, Group Chief Executive of Barts Health NHS Trust, said:
“We’re delighted that Whipps Cross is one of six hospitals in the country that will receive government funding for a new build.
“This announcement secures the long-term future of the hospital and enable the patient and staff environment to be greatly improved.”
A brand new hospital with a full range of acute health services for a growing population could be built on a fraction of the land now occupied at Whipps Cross.
This prospect is held out by Barts Health NHS Trust and its partners as they seek views on developing a modern health and wellbeing campus with a state-of-the-art hospital at its heart.
to build a new hospital, hundreds of new homes, and leisure and cultural amenities that will bring new jobs into the community.
Three potential locations for a new build on the existing Whipps Cross site are outlined in a high-level ‘masterplan’ drawn up for the trust and local authority.
Each option includes new A&E and maternity units, mid-rise (6-8 storeys) or high-rise construction ( 8-12 storeys), and a multi-storey car park to replace existing provision. The historic towers of the original Victorian hospital buildings could be part of the land released for development.
The trust and its partners will assess the merits of each of the options, taking into account the extent to which they enable services to be transformed to meet patients’ needs and other criteria including the estimated time for construction, access and environmental issues and the estimated cost of each option.
Barts Health is also seeking feedback from staff, patients and the public on these emerging ideas and will take that feedback into account in assessing the options.
The new masterplan report, together with an on-line feedback form, can be found at www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/future-whipps.
The trust will be engaging with staff, patients, patients, local residents, community groups, the public and their representatives throughout the autumn, including a public meeting on 15 October.
The trust will shortly publish complementary proposals about how health and care services can be delivered in the future which will have an impact on the size and shape of any new hospital.
Cllr Clare Coghill, Leader of Waltham Forest Council, said:
“This is fantastic news for the people of Waltham Forest and the hard-working staff of Whipps Cross.
“For years we have been campaigning with partners across the borough and our residents to secure the vital funding needed to upgrade facilities and improve the medical care available for patients.
“A new hospital building means this important local institution, which has a special place in the heart of so many families in East London because of the care they have received there, will continue its vital work for years to come improving the life chances of patients.
“Our residents deserve nothing less.”
Background
In August 2018 NHS Improvement confirmed its support for Barts Health to develop detailed proposals for the redevelopment of Whipps Cross Hospital, building on work completed in 2016/17 as part of the original Strategic Outline Case (SOC). This was reaffirmed in January 2019 when, as part of the outcome of the national STP capital bidding process, Barts Health was asked to work up the redevelopment proposals in more detail and to secure STP support for a refreshed business case that took account of the capital constraints.
The government announced on Sunday 29 September 2019 that Whipps Cross hospital is one of six hospitals to benefit from £2.7billion of funding over the next five years, as part of a new ‘health infrastructure programme.’
The implications of this announcement for the programme and the timetable for the redevelopment of the hospital will be discussed with regional and national partner organisations.
A paper on the Whipps Cross Redevelopment Programme is included in the papers for the Trust Board meeting on 11 September, published on www.bartshealth.nhs.uk.
For more information visit www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/future-whipps
Barts Health is keen to hear the views of its patients and local residents. Together with our partners, we are hosting a public meeting to present updates on our redevelopment programme, to answer questions and to hear the views of local people. Details are as follows:
Tuesday 15 October
6pm to 8pm
Leytonstone School
159 Colworth Rd
London, E11 1JD
To be kept informed about the Whipps Cross redevelopment programme, people should email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.