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Rebuilt hospital 'will not open before 2038'

Martin HeathHertfordshire political reporter
News imagePhilip Jeffrey/Geograph An entrance to Watford General Hospital, showing a Watford General Hospital sign in white lettering on a blue background. Another sign gives directions for various car parks. There is a three-storey white building to the right, with black window frames and some windows lit up. There is a two-storey brick building in the background, and a road runs past in the foreground.Philip Jeffrey/Geograph
Watford General Hospital has been waiting for a rebuild since 2020

The long-awaiting rebuild of a hospital will not be complete before 2038, according to a public spending watchdog.

The construction of the new Watford General Hospital was originally due for completion in 2030.

The new date was given in a report from the National Audit Office (NAO), which reviewed the progress of 40 projects in the government's New Hospital Programme (NHP).

Watford's Liberal Democrat elected mayor, Peter Taylor said the news was "bitterly disappointing".

Watford General was one of the 40 "new hospital" projects listed in 2020 for completion by 2030.

Rishi Sunak's Conservative administration announced in 2023 that the Watford General Hospital rebuilding project would be fully funded by the government and was due to be completed in 2030.

News imageRobin Stott/Geograph White building of several storeys with floor numbers on the glass of the stairwell. There are yellow exterior steps to the left, with metal handrails. There is a six-storey brick-built building in the background.Robin Stott/Geograph
Parts of the hospital are showing their age

The West Herts NHS Trust, which runs Watford General, said staff and patients would see a "complete transformation".

The scheme already had outline planning permission and was due to be constructed between the current site and Thomas Sawyer Way.

Keir Starmer's Labour government reviewed the NHP in 2025 and confirmed the Watford project was still going ahead, with construction due to start between 2032 and 2034.

In its new review of the NHP, the NAO said the "current planned year of opening" was 2038.

It added that the new construction timetable was "more realistic", but the government had to "maintain rigorous oversight of the programme to keep it on track".

News imagePeter Taylor with short brown hair, wearing a black jacket over a white shirt and red tie. There is play equipment in the background painted in bright colours. There is a railway station sign behind, and a three-storey wood-faced building beyond that.
The elected mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, says Watford is not being treated fairly

Taylor, who leads Watford Borough Council, said: "We have waited so long for this vital investment, and it is desperately needed now.

"Ministers have decided to place the Watford scheme way down the priority list, with dozens of projects set to be completed before us.

"How can this be fair?"

A spokesperson for the West Herts NHS Trust said: "Work is already under way on a £12m programme of enabling works to clear the site ahead of the main hospital building.

"The agreement earlier this month that the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre could be incorporated into the scheme to redevelop Watford General will enable rapid progress on detailed design work.

"The final timetable for delivery of the combined scheme will be considered after the consultation period."

The Department for Health and Social Care has also been contacted for comment.

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