As part of the programme’s governance and oversight, a draft shortlist was approved by Lancashire and South Cumbria health and care system leaders and endorsed by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Strategic Commissioning Committee on 10 March 2022.

The shortlist of possible solutions consisted of:

1. Investment at both Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Royal Preston Hospital, allowing partial rebuilding work on both existing sites
2. A new Royal Lancaster Infirmary on a new site, with partial rebuild / refurbishment of Royal Preston Hospital
3. A new Royal Preston Hospital on a new site, with partial rebuild / refurbishment of Royal Lancaster Infirmary
4. Two new hospitals to replace Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Royal Preston Hospital (new sites).

All proposals would include investment in Furness General Hospital, required due to its geographically remote location, its proximity to some of the UK’s major strategic national assets, and its need to meet NHS environmental goals.

Proactive communications and engagement around the shortlist announcement launched across all channels on 10 March 2022 and ended on 27 March 2022, ahead of the pre-election period.

What we heard: broad themes

Respondents suggested that the most important things that the New Hospitals Programme should take into consideration, to ensure that future hospital facilities meet their needs were hospital sites being in accessible locations future-proofing to meet future (not just current) healthcare needs and greater emphasis on patient-centred care. There is a clear acceptance that enhanced facilities are important and having these as part of a familiar infrastructure seems to be more appealing than an arguably improved set of facilities in a new and different location.

What we heard: patients, the public and some NHS staff

A website survey was open between 10 March and 3 April 2022 to ask local people and staff what they thought about Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme’s shortlist of proposals. Of the 2,007 shortlist website survey participants, 48% were patients, and 19% of respondents were NHS staff. Strength of preference towards investment in two new hospital sites increased significantly compared to the longlist website survey, emerging as the clear favourite among a majority.

What we heard: NHS staff

Colleague Summits were held on 15 March and 29 March 2022 and were attended by 196 members of staff. Comments were shared about the shortlist, with topics including: the future of specific departments; the involvement of ambulance services; the need for a joined-up approach with community services and social care; questions about exact locations, facilities, and bed numbers; the accessibility of any new sites and how the programme is learning from other success stories to optimise the design.

"A single new site, which was proposed to be on a new, central site, to replace Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary was discontinued, despite clinical and operational benefits. There was concern around health inequalities, access, and a lack of stakeholder support for this possible solution."

Rebecca Malin, Programme Director for the Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme