I was very interested to read Mr Kirkham’s letter in last week’s Watford Observer, that a new A&E Hospital for West Herts is simply “pie in the sky”.

Firstly, as far as I am aware, there has been no announcement from the Government that they have approved West Herts Hospital Trust’s plans to redevelop Watford General Hospital. I have actually recently received confirmation from Dr Nicholas Small, Chairman of Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group, that after discussions with the NHS regulator NHS Improvement. He said: “As a result of those discussions, West Herts Hospitals Trust is undertaking a review of the strategic outline case to provide further information and additional clarity on assumptions to date, particularly in order to ensure affordability.”

Regarding the Mr Kirkham’s reference to Dacorum Patients Group being led by a Liberal Democrat town councillor and describing Watford Hospital as” the worst hospital in Western Europe”. As a St Albans resident and new A&E hospital campaigner, I am aware of the Dacorum Hospital Action Group but they are certainly are not led by a Liberal Democrat town councillor and, to my knowledge, not held several meetings! Perhaps Mr Kirkham has confused group with another? The new hospital campaigners that I know are definitely not politically driven but just very concerned that West Herts is reliant on a A&E hospital that is universally accepted as not being “fit for purpose” and is hard to get to for the majority of residents living in West Herts. (Watford General Hospital is certainly not easily accessible from St Albans and we don’t even have a direct bus service to the hospital.)

Regarding the Government rejecting this group’s petition - the Government did not reject the petition otherwise it wouldn’t have been active and achieve 10 500 signatures. The government responded to this petition that West Herts Hospital Trust’s strategic outline case was being considered by Herts Valleys CCG and if approved it would then be assessed by NHSI which is is exactly where we are at the moment. I also started a second government petition calling for a new A&E hospital for West Herts which achieved over 10 500 signatures and I am certainly do not have an allegiance with any political party.

Regarding Mr Kirkham’s suggesting that wanting a new hospital to replace Watford General Hospital is a slur on hard working hospital staff who are trying to turn the hospital around. I am not aware of any new A&E hospital campaigners that don’t appreciate the hard work that our highly valued hospital staff do despite the poor environment they work in. That is exactly why new hospital campaigners want the best facilities for our doctors and nurses. A new, state-of-the-art A&E hospital would not only attract the best hospital staff but also help retain them. Everyone wants to work in the best possible workplace and this is especially true where patient’s health is of prime importance.

Mr Kirkham’s points about the reduction of services at Hemel Hempstead Hospital and the coalition potentially wanting to sell off of the hospital land are a bit off the mark when the letter, in my opinion, is really about discrediting the new hospital campaign.

Regarding alternative greenfield sites for a new A&E hospital - there are many that could be considered but West Herts Hospitals Trust and Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group decided not to pursue this option. Therefore Mr Kirkham’s point about the current Hemel Hempstead Hospital site being the only viable alternative is incorrect. From my understanding the Government have not recommended any location for west Herts’ only A&E hospital - these decisions and plans are drawn up locally by WHHT, then approved by the CCG before being submitted to NHS Improvement. The question of funding for a new A&E Hospital is the same one as funding for redeveloping existing hospitals! The point that new hospital campaigners argue is that it is easier and therefore cheaper to build a brand new A&E Hospital rather than to redevelop Watford General Hospital and have to work around patients and staff. (Mr Kirkham’ doesn’t mention the noise, dirt and disruption from demolition and construction work during redevelopment!) Redevelopment of Watford General Hospital would be phased and take at least 12 years whereas a new A&E Hospital could be operational in seven years and have a much longer life as it would be built to current NHS standards and environmental regulations and have the capacity to expand. The populations of St Albans and District, Dacorum and Watford are all fairly equal in size so the argument for a more accessible and central location for West Herts only A&E Hospital is both logical and fair.

Whether a new A&E Hospital for West Herts is just “pie in the sky” will become clearer soon but whatever the final decision may be, we will all have to live with the consequences of it for the next 50 years. Those backing redevelopment now may live to regret this when Hertfordshire’s population grows by an estimated 250 000 in the next 15 years.

Andy Love

St Albans