Home / Health / Frimley Park Hospital: Consultation Row Erupts
Frimley Park Hospital: Consultation Row Erupts
31 Jul
Summary
- An MP is questioning a decision to bypass public consultation for hospital plans.
- New documents show a committee believed the move would have no negative impact.
- The hospital's relocation is considered the most significant healthcare change in a generation.
Surrey Heath MP Al Pinkerton has publicly challenged a decision to forgo a public consultation regarding the relocation of Frimley Park Hospital. Pinkerton cited newly disclosed documents indicating the joint health overview and scrutiny committee's belief that the move would not negatively impact patient access.
The hospital is planned to be rebuilt on part of Pine Ridge Golf Club due to concerns about reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in the current facility. Pinkerton expressed surprise that such a large-scale project, described as the most significant change to healthcare provision in Surrey Heath for a generation, proceeded without formal NHS public consultation.
Committee chairman Trefor Hogg stated that the decision was made by the NHS, and he supported it due to the absence of expected significant disadvantages to patients. Hogg confirmed that officials considered wider public consultation but deemed it unnecessary, as the plans do not involve a major loss of access, with the search area remaining within five miles of the current hospital.
