Update on behalf of the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria
Following the outcome of the Government review of the national New Hospital Programme (published on 20 January 2025), the timescales for delivering two new hospitals to replace Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary have been significantly impacted.
In light of this delay, the local NHS has made the difficult decision to suspend public engagement on the proposed sites. The planned programme of public events and independent market research will be cancelled until further notice.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank people and our staff for their input.
Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our region’s hospitals
The Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme is aiming to address significant problems with our ageing hospitals in Preston (Royal Preston Hospital) and Lancaster (Royal Lancaster Infirmary). We also need to invest in Furness General Hospital’s infrastructure in the context of its strategic importance and geographically remote location.
Proposals to replace Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary with two brand new hospitals are in progress. In addition, Furness General Hospital in Barrow will benefit from investment in improvements.
This is our chance to shape our services to meet the needs of our patients, colleagues, and local communities, to enhance their experiences and create hospital facilities that our present and future generations deserve.
Being able to build new hospitals on new sites will be truly transformational. This will give us the freedom to design our services and facilities around the needs of our patients, future-proofing for the next generation.
The opportunity for Lancashire and South Cumbria
Our region has 1.8 million people living in cities with diverse cultures and communities, rural areas and coastal towns
We want to give people of all ages and communities equal access to the best possible hospital facilities.
The programme is about more than just buildings – it gives us the opportunity to transform how health and care is delivered in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Transforming hospitals
We want to build on what our hospitals are already great at, while developing new cutting-edge hospital facilities that take advantage of new healthcare technologies and treatments to offer the absolute best in modern healthcare.
We also want to improve the experience that patients, families and carers have in hospital, offering privacy and dignity through more single en-suite rooms, family areas and more space for our colleagues to care for patients.
Positive change for our region
The positive impact of this work will reach further than new hospitals.
It will attract investment and jobs to Lancashire and South Cumbria, benefitting everyone and boosting our local economy in the future.
Keep up to date
Read more about the proposals for new hospital facilities in our region.
Which areas will benefit?
Our local NHS trusts are working with other health and community organisations to make the most of the possibilities that this investment in our patch will bring for patients and colleagues.
Some of our hospitals will have new facilities and refurbishments and we want to link all our region’s hospitals using digital technology to offer the best treatment and care closer to people’s homes wherever possible.
A state-of-the-art new build on a new site for Royal Preston Hospital would provide major trauma and specialist services to the population of Lancashire and South Cumbria, as well as acute hospital services to Central Lancashire.
A new hospital on a new site to replace Royal Lancaster Infirmary, and investment in Furness General Hospital would provide acute hospital services for Morecambe Bay.
When will decisions be made?
At this stage no final decisions have been made. Our proposals will be led by clinical opinion, experience and scientific data and the needs and views of our patients, staff and local people will be very important.
Our process
To ensure we deliver the best results for everyone, there is a clear process we are following before any building work can begin.