When we launched this round of engagement on the future of health services, we made a commitment to listen. 

We made that commitment in public and in front of members of the local community who attended a recent scrutiny meeting at Surrey Heath Borough Council. 

We stand by what we said then. This engagement is important, so much more important than a box to tick or a milestone to hit. 

It is important because a hospital serving communities across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire for generations to come will be better if it is shaped by the people who use it. 

Thousands of people have already taken part in events, meetings, discussions and our questionnaire. We've heard from patients, NHS staff, residents, community organisations, schools, councillors, MPs and many others.  

This reflects just how important Frimley Park Hospital is to the communities it serves.  

We heard that people wanted more information and we acted on that feedback.  

On 17 July, the Trust published more information about its site selection, providing a large amount of new and sometimes complex information to the public. 

It’s only right that we give people more time to understand our plans, to talk to us and ask questions.  

We have decided to extend this period of engagement and create additional opportunities for people to take part. Events will take place and our engagement questionnaire will continue until 12 October. 

For me, one of the most valuable parts of this process has been hearing things that simply aren’t set out in a report, on a map or deep in a technical assessment. 

Local parents told me about how children get to and from school. They explained how children already use parts of the proposed site as an informal cycling route away from the main road. Walking or cycling through the trees forms part of everyday life for some young people.  

That is the sort of knowledge that only comes from talking to people who know an area very well. 

At this stage, it would be wrong to claim we know exactly what our plans will look like or precisely how every piece of feedback will influence them. We don't. 

What we can say is that understanding how people experience a place or a health service today helps us ask better questions about the future.  

It helps us understand local priorities, identify issues earlier and work together on solutions that reflect the realities of people's lives – whether they are patients, their families, NHS staff, school children on their way to lessons, or residents living nearby. 

That's why engagement matters.  

It won’t guarantee agreement or that everyone is happy with the outcome. But better decisions are made when local knowledge, professional expertise and community insight come together. 

Over the coming weeks we'll continue the conversation. 

We'll be holding further events, sharing regular updates and continuing to work with partners and communities across our area. The details will be shared on our website and social media accounts soon. 

We'll also continue to be open about the process itself. As engagement progresses, we'll share what we're doing, what we're hearing and what happens next in weekly updates to staff, stakeholders, patients and the public.  

Later this year, we'll set out the feedback we received and how it helped inform the programme's next steps.  

If you've already taken part, thank you. 

If you haven't yet shared your views, there's still time. 

The questionnaire remains one of the most important ways for people to have their say, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in the future of healthcare in Frimley to take a few minutes to complete it. 

Building a new hospital is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. 

We're committed to getting it right, and that starts with listening.

Kirk Ward 
Director of Communications and Engagement 
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust