Whipps Cross redevelopment – an update from Alastair Finney
We begin 2025 with ‘above-ground’ progress now visible on the multi-storey car park construction site next to the current hospital.
With ‘groundworks’ completed, pre-cast concrete elements such as staircases are being installed. Later this spring, the steel elements of each floor will start to be assembled. The project is on budget and remains on time, with work expected to complete as planned in August.
At the same time as making good progress on our construction site, behind the scenes we have been updating our plans for the new hospital, so that when we get the ‘green light’ from the Government we are as ready as we can be to begin translating our plans into reality.
We have been updating our ‘demand and capacity’ model for the new hospital. The model’s outputs indicate how many people are likely to need treatment and care in the new hospital, so that we can plan for that challenge. For example, the outputs will be used to inform our plans for the number of beds, daycase spaces and operating theatres for the new hospital.
We are also working with colleagues in the national New Hospital Programme to understand further the potential implications for Whipps Cross of new national standards and guidance for designing hospitals across England.
To help us do this, we are working closely with healthcare planning advisors and our specialist architects who, between them, have decades of experience in supporting the design and construction of new hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
As many of you will know, last summer the new government signalled a review of the national New Hospital Programme. I had anticipated that the review would conclude with an announcement in Autumn 2024. But that didn’t happen, which was disappointing. I now hope that an announcement will come very soon, so watch this space!
Until we hear from the government and understand next steps for the Whipps Cross programme, I’m sad to say this means a further delay in our journey for a new hospital, which means the start date for the main building works has shifted from 2026 to 2027 at the earliest.
So, as we start the new year, construction on site is well under way, we are ready with our plans, and we know that as staff and local people we have your support to deliver a brand-new hospital. Now all we need is the ‘green light’ from the government.