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New hospital was discussed at Overview and Scrutiny meeting on Tuesday 7 December 2021.
Watch the meeting
Pathfinder projects
Current and future health services came under the spotlight of Epping Forest District Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee when senior Princess Alexandra Hospital executives answered questions around the recent Care Quality Commission – CQC reports and development of the new hospital.
Plans are being developed for a brand-new hospital close to Junction 7a of the M11. The New Princess Alexandra Hospital is 1 of 8 ‘pathfinder projects’ in the Government’s new hospital programme. Councillors heard that a great deal of progress had been made including:
- Design brief completed
- Schedule of accommodation – complete and incorporated into building design
- Procurement strategy completed
- Facilities management strategy
- Digital strategy
- Modern methods of construction
- Net zero carbon strategy
- Very wide engagement
- OBC – the Outline Business Case – a key document in the release funding is 60% drafted
Negotiations for the land purchase are also at an advanced stage following agreement of the purchase price.
Project delayed
However, further progress has been delayed as the government assesses all hospitals in the national programme with a design convergence review to promote common areas of design and similar construction methods.
The review conclusions are expected in the new year, but it does mean the New Princess Alexandra Hospital project is delayed.
Hospital executives also took questions on the recent CQC report published in November. Caring services received a green light but the CQC also found improvements are required in other key categories.
- Are services safe? Requires improvement
- Are services effective? Requires improvement
- Are services responsive? Requires improvement
- Are services well-led? Requires improvement
Improve services
Hospital Trust Chief Executive Lance McCarthy and Stephanie Lawton, Chief Operating Officer outlined the pressures of trying to improve services during the Covid Pandemic. If the CQC came in tomorrow, councillors were told they would see a workforce committed to improvements and the steps to improve services for patients.
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