Watford General patients could face years of disruption from two huge building schemes

Councils consider plan which could mean many years of disruption for Watford General patients, as two major building projects happen at the same time.

• Joint scrutiny committee is looking at proposals to bring relocated new Mount Vernon Cancer Centre together with Watford General rebuild.
• Cancer Centre needs to be near a general hospital for safer and better patient care
• Plans could mean £1.4bn 260-foot towering infirmary being built at same time as £465m cancer centre to replace Mount Vernon centre – on virtually same site

• Current main building could be facing noise and pollution nuisance from two sides for many years.
• Plans being considered by joint local authority committee would also mean Watford site being run by two separate Trusts – with risk of management chaos
• Houses, flats and hotels also likely to be built at same time within a few metres of new buildings
• NHS unlikely to consider the best option – a clear new site for both new buildings away from cramped Vicarage Road which would provide better access and environment – and better value for money

The papers for the joint committee are below – see Agenda Pack page 20.

Public reports pack 16122024 1000 Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee