Tractivity Update

January 2023

Issue 26

Welcome to Blueprint

Welcome to the January edition of Blueprint. As it’s the first edition of 2023, we can justifiably say ‘Happy New Year’.

It has certainly been a busy start for us in terms of opening our doors to several high profile visitors.

Steve Barclay MP, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was the first of this year’s guests. He was followed by Paul Burstow, the chair of the Integrated Care Board and, most recently, health minister William Quince MP.

As well as discussing our plans, we have been able to demonstrate how we are expanding the virtual hospital model to care for a range of conditions as well as showing off our new robots! The virtual hospital hub and robotic-assisted surgery are great examples of the way we can innovate and transform care, despite our surroundings.

Pictured in the photo collage below, top left, is Dr Rachel Hoey (divisional director for emergency medicine), Sarah Cato (lead nurse for emergency medicine) and Steve Barclay MP (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care).

Pictured below bottom left is Will Quince MP (health minister) and Balasmita Bhaskaran (clinical specialist nurse, virtual hospital).

Pictured below right is Gini George (clinical nurse specialist, virtual hospital), Dr Niall Keenan (associate medical director and consultant cardiologist, clinical lead for the virtual hospital) and Steve Barclay (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care).

Community Diagnostics Centre at St Albans City Hospital

Plans are progressing for our Community Diagnostics Centre at St Albans City Hospital and we will provide more updates in next month’s newsletter. Essential electrical work is the first step, to make sure that the site has enough power for the additional diagnostic equipment we plan to install.

Anticipatory Care at Hemel Hempstead Hospital

A partnership approach is being taken to create a new model of care that is focused on avoiding hospital admission by providing a more comprehensive and proactive healthcare service to people who have at least four long term conditions.

Evidence suggests that this group of patients spend time in hospital with no appreciable benefit. If anything, being in a hospital bed can be deconditioning. Our plans involve a greater degree of specialist input, related to each illness and condition as well as input from a dedicated community nursing service and GP.

It is likely that this partnership service would be based at Hemel Hempstead Hospital. More on this as it progresses.

Introducing Alex White

We are delighted to announce that we have appointed a chief redevelopment officer. Alex White is set to join us later this year.

Alex has more than 20 years’ experience on capital projects in the health sector and has most recently led on delivery of the new Children’s Hospital in Cambridge. Being able to secure someone with Alex’s calibre is very encouraging and will be a real boost to our plans. He will start in April.

Road subsidence update

The road in front of the Princess Michael of Kent building at Watford General Hospital is likely to remain closed until the spring whilst repairs are carried out.

The subsidence was caused by an underground leak from a mains water pipe that was installed in the 1970s. It is a long and painstaking process to restore the road due to the need to investigate and prevent any further damage. Please be assured that the subsidence poses no risk to the adjacent buildings or roads. It is isolated and the only affected area is the road.

Diversions remain in place around the site. Patients and visitors can continue to access Watford General Hospital via Thomas Sawyer Way and follow the signs to the multi-storey car park.

Access to disabled parking and drop-off and collection points around Watford General Hospital from Vicarage Road are available via a clearly marked diversion. Non-emergency patient transport providers continue to collect and drop off patients from outside the main entrance of PMOK by accessing the site from Thomas Sawyer Way.

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Healthcare Infrastructure

Blueprint readers may be interested in the minutes from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Healthcare Infrastructure, which met earlier this month.

The meeting discussed the New Hospital Programme in the context of the pandemic recovery and an increasingly challenging economic situation. The chair of the meeting encouraged a frank and open discussion on the progress of the New Hospital Programme and the challenges it faces.

Please click here to read the minutes.

Walkabout at Watford General

A walkabout at Watford General Hospital is being arranged to allow people to see and hear in situ a bit more about our plans. This will take place on Tuesday 7 February and will be in two groups. The tour will be outside.

Please let us know if you would be interested in attending by emailing us by midday on Wednesday 1 February at westherts.redevelopment@nhs.net and we will send you further details.

Catch up with redevelopment news

Blueprint - You can read past editions of the Blueprint newsletter on our website. Share the news and get your colleagues and friends to subscribe by emailing westherts.redevelopment@nhs.net

A-Z information sheet - This document addresses frequently asked questions and the main themes from our engagement and redevelopment programme. It will be updated regularly and we will provide details of where information has been added or amended.

Further information

Please contact us with any questions you may have about the outline business case and hospital redevelopment plans to westherts.redevelopment@nhs.net

More detailed information is available on our website at www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/investinginourhospitals.

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