22 December 2021
Proposal to redevelop Frimley Park Hospital
We have asked for national funding to carry out a transformational redevelopment of Frimley Park Hospital. We want to provide our patients and staff with a new state-of-the-art hospital from which to deliver improved patient care and experience and meet the future health and care needs of the local and wider community.
We have submitted an Expression of Interest to the Department of Health and Social Care requesting funding for a £1.26 billion new Frimley Park Hospital as part of the national New Hospital Programme.
We are also exploring an option of a phased redevelopment over the next 10 years, as an alternative to being funded through the New Hospital Programme.
Why are we doing this?
Frimley Park Hospital is 46 years old and was built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the 1970s. The image shown here is from the front cover of the original Frimley Park Hospital brochure from 1975. Although considered a revolutionary new building material at the time, RAAC has since been found to be susceptible to deterioration and therefore represents potential health and safety risks to patients, staff and visitors as well as considerable surveillance and maintenance costs. While the risk is being actively managed, NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) requires us to eliminate all the RAAC by 2035.
Mitigation in the meantime
To ensure safety and minimise risk while we develop our plan for the future, we have an extensive surveillance and maintenance regime in place which is working well. There are new roof covers in place to prevent RAAC deterioration due to water, and continuous repairs, reinforcement and propping of RAAC planks in areas of highest risk. So far, this work has ensured that no injuries have been sustained, and little material damage to buildings and equipment.
Benefits of a new hospital
A new hospital will deliver improved patient care, experience and outcomes through:
- more operating theatres
- improved and extended outpatient facilities
- improved infection prevention and control
- more local specialist services
- improved and future-proofed inpatient environments
- improved clinical adjacencies and flow around the hospital
- a much-improved overall environment for the benefit of patients, visitors, and staff
- new care pathways
- smarter use of digital technology and IT infrastructure
- alignment with the NHS Long Term Plan aims
The new and redeveloped buildings will also be stronger, safer, more sustainable and greener. The new-look hospital will be fit for purpose and provide many environmental benefits including improved energy efficiency, sustainability and net-zero carbon.
Next steps
This redevelopment project is at a very early stage. We will issue regular updates and provide a range of ways for staff, local people and organisations to have their say about what they think our new hospital should offer, what kind of hospital does the local community want and need, what’s working well at the hospital now, and where could things be improved?
This situation gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide the local community with a hospital which is fit for purpose and will significantly improve healthcare and experience for everyone.