In March 2022, we published a shortlist of proposals for new hospital facilities in the region, each designed to address the issues highlighted in our Case for Change report. Read more in our media release announcing the shortlist of proposals.
Following on from the announcement of the shortlist, the Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme team has carried out a detailed assessment of the shortlisted options.
Each shortlisted proposal has been comprehensively assessed for deliverability, viability, affordability and value for money. Key elements have been considered to help evaluate each of the shortlisted options. This includes service configuration; what would be required in terms of rooms, beds and other provisions to be able to meet the operational, space and location requirements; and site location options.
This work has resulted in recommendations for preferred options and alternative options for both Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria has stated its preference for new hospitals on new sites for both Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary as part of the New Hospitals Programme.
The detail behind each option will continue to be expanded and refined as further work on the shortlist progresses and the required business cases are developed.
Work is underway to assess the viability of potential locations for new hospital builds for both Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Following an initial land search, the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria is assessing the deliverability of each site, including environmental and planning considerations, capacity for utilities and high-level design, as well as undertaking travel and transport analysis to understand the accessibility of each site. There is still a lot of work to be completed in this area and additional sites may emerge over the coming period. Further information will be shared in due course.
No final decisions have been made and the New Hospitals Programme team will continue to involve patients, local people, staff and wider stakeholders in the development of proposals.
You can read more about this in our September 2022 programme update news article.