Winter has been one of the hardest - consultant

A consultant at a Surrey hospital said the past winter had been "one of the hardest that I have experienced" amid pressures on the NHS.

Dr Chris Orchard, a consultant at Frimley Park Hospital, said winter pressures at the hospital had been "pretty unprecedented" with high demand for services in the area.

It comes as Health Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Radio Surrey that he was committed to the construction of the new hospital beginning in 2028 or 2029 amid speculation and "deep concerns" about a proposed site.

"I think the demand into all services is so high that it's very hard to manage that demand effectively," Orchard said.

He added: "I have been at Frimley Health for the last 12 years and it has been pretty unprecedented.

"Our emergency departments have worked really hard to turn people around effectively."

Pressures on Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust comes amid continuing uncertainty about a new site for the hospital, which is being replaced due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) being found in buildings.

A site has been found for the new hospital, but the trust is yet to publicly confirm where it is.

Concerns have been expressed about one rumoured site, nearby Pine Ridge Golf Club, which Surrey Heath Borough Council previously said would not be in the public interest.

Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, Streeting said that it was "legitimate" for concerns to be raised about the site but added it was "right for us to make sure we get big decisions like this right".

He added: "I'm under no illusions about the scale of the challenge."

Work to begin replacing Frimley Park Hospital is due to begin in 2028 or 2029 and is "fully funded", Streeting added.

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