An update on the Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospital’s Programme

The Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospital Programme (NHP) is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build brand-new hospital facilities in the local area. Aiming to improve hospital care through the renovation of the hospitals and their services. With the proposals for the new facilities are led by the needs of the patients, staff and local people.

At the end of last year, the NHP worked with Healthwatch Together (formed of Healthwatch Cumbria, Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen), to engage with the local people to find out more about their ideas and opinions of the project, via a series of Healthwatch-led community engagement roadshow events. These events were an opportunity for local people to meet Healthwatch representatives face-to-face to find out more about the New Hospitals Programme, ask questions and put forward their ideas and opinions. The main discussion point at each event was the long list of possible solutions for hospital facilities in Preston, Lancaster and Barrow-In-Furness.

The feedback that Healthwatch Together gained was fed directly back to the NHS NHP and it influenced the creation of the proposal to shortlist.

The published shortlist of proposals for new hospital facilities in March 2022, were:

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

Following the announcement of the shortlist proposals, the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHP team carried out a detailed assessment of the options. Each shortlisted proposal was comprehensively assessed for deliverability, affordability, value for money and viability, taking into consideration feedback from patients, local people and staff.

This work resulted in recommendations of options for the future of both Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria stated its preference for new hospitals on new sites for both Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary as part of the NHP. Subject to an endorsement from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust Boards, and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

To find out more, you can read the full NHP announcement here.
This announcement explains what this proposal could mean for Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary, as well as the next steps for the NHP.

Listening to the views and thoughts of local people from the area is key to fully understanding what is required when shaping plans and proposals. Thus, have your say and share your views by filling out the new online survey.

This survey will be open until 31^st October 2022.

If you are interested in reading more about the work and activity that has taken place, as well as the feedback that people have shared so far, have a read of the new NHS NHP report, which can be found here.