£305m for new Northwick Park Hospital (From Harrow Times)

£305m for new Northwick Park Hospital

2:56pm Thursday 5th August 2004

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NORTHWICK Park Hospital is to receive £305 million from the Government for new, state-of-the-art facilities.

Health Secretary John Reid agreed the money to rejuvenate the hospital in Watford Road, Harrow, as part of a £4 billion national programme announced last week.

As we reported last week, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore won approval for its £121 rebuilding programme, and Watford General has also benefited.

The central pillar of the Northwick Park development will be a 600-bed acute facility, replacing the existing 35-year old buildings which have become increasingly expensive and difficult to run.

The new unit will be staffed by "super-teams" combining clinical and diagnostic functions with primary care skills. It is expected to be open in 2010.

It has not yet been decided how much of the existing buildings will be demolished to make way for the new ward. One option being considered is a link between Northwick Park Tube station and the hospital reception.

John Pope, chief executive of the NW London Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "This is fantastic news for local people, who will be getting the brand new hospital they deserve, and for the staff, who work very hard in often difficult conditions."

"Last year, around 20 per cent of the hospital's staff left, and out-of-date facilities may have been one factor in lowering staff morale.

"But the trust received a two-star rating in the recent Government evaluation, proof that service standards remain high.

Mr Pope said the aim was to provide a "totally integrated health service".

"This is our opportunity to build a model 21st century health care campus that will be a real asset to the NHS, and one which the whole community can be proud of," he said.

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