FUNDING FOR WATFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL

Standing Up For Our Hospital

I have reconfirmed my support of redeveloping Watford General Hospital.

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An independent report concluded redeveloping the existing hospital is a more realistic option for West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust than building a new hospital on a new site.

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The existing site at Watford General is just over 73,000 square metres so has huge potential with sufficient space for new buildings. It also has a new access road and essential utilities.

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The planned multi-storey car park will free up significant space on the site currently used as parking. With the funding that is on offer, up to 90% of the buildings would be new and there would be a massive increase in single rooms.

Much has been said about the proximity to the Football Club but a lot of this dates back to before the new access road was put in - which has made a huge difference. It also has an ambulance-only section so that emergency patients can be brought in as quickly as possible. A significant amount of public money has already been spent on redeveloping the A&E and other wards.

I have seen for myself that having Watford FC as its neighbour has actually

been an amazing bonus this year and really helped the hospital by giving

the hard-working staff much-needed respite.

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There is match day traffic on alternate weekends during a normal season and occasionally in the evening, but these aren’t peak times for the hospital and new access road makes it possible for hospital traffic to avoid Vicarage Road.

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I think it is also really important to point out that more than 40% of the staff working at Watford General live in Watford and Three Rivers, and many live within walking distance to Watford General. Our hospital staff are world class and need easily accessible first class facilities to match.

Secretary of State Praises Dean For Campaign

The Prime Minister has confirmed for the first time

40 hospitals that will be built by 2030 as part of a

package worth £3.7 billion, with eight further

new schemes invited to bid, delivering on the

government’s manifesto commitment.

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New standards will be developed over the

coming months to help standardise the

design of new hospitals and make use of

modular construction methods to speed up the build.  

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The Health Infrastructure Plan is the biggest

hospital building programme in a generation.

It launched last September with a £2.8 billion

investment that gave six new hospitals the

funding to go ahead, alongside seed funding for

Trusts to work up business cases. 

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The Trusts that received seed funding will now all be fully funded to deliver 25 new hospitals.

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The long-term investment in these new hospitals will ensure the NHS can continue to provide world-class care right across the country in the years to come.

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Following the news that West Hertfordshire NHS Hospital Trust will receive significant funding to redevelop it’s three sites, with Watford General being at the heart of these plans, Watford’s MP Dean Russell said:

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“I am delighted that the excellent staff at Watford General will be able to work in 21st Century facilities. The staff do an amazing job, and they deserve world class facilities to match the level of care that they provide. With the funding that is on offer, up to 90% of the buildings will be new which will vastly improve the patient experience.”

Latest Health Campaign News

Getting Hands-on To Support Our local NHS

Dean has been privileged to have volunteered to support the exceptional work at Watford General Hospital during the pandemic throughout the last year. Dean 

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Dean has regularly thanked the volunteers for their support for the local NHS and as part of the vaccination programme, including raising the work they do locally to the Prime Minister as part of PMQs.

Dean aims to continue volunteering at the hospital for the foreseeable future.

Fundraising For 'Raise'

Since 1995, Raise has been dedicated to supporting patient and staff care across Hemel Hempstead, St Albans City and Watford General Hospitals.  

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Beyond volunteering for Watford General, Dean offered to use his creative talents to paint Sir Captain Tom Moore to auction for the charity.

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The painting was kindly bought and gifted back to the Trust, and is now displayed at the entrance of the hospital, reminding patients and staff of the positive message and inspiration that Sir Captain Tom Moore delivered across the nation during the first national lockdown.

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Health and Social Care Select Committee

The Health & Social Care Select Committee is an official Parliamentary committee made up of cross party MP's which are elected to the position by their peers.

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The committee has ultimate responsibility to scrutinise the work of the Department of Health and Social Care coupled with the associated public bodies. As part of the Select Committee, Dean examines the government policy, spending and administration on behalf of the House and Commons and the electorate. 

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During the COVID crisis this has included interviewing Government Ministers and advisors including Professor Whitty, Sir Patrick Valance and The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP.

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View Dean's questions and contributions in the Health and Social Care Select Committee section here.

Chair of the Digital Health
All Party Parliamentary Group

Dean is the chair of this important new All Party Parliamentary Group which looks at the role of Digital Health and the future of technology in the NHS and beyond. 

The group's fundamental aim is to connect Parliament with the health system, industry, academia, third sector, and civil society to provide insight and recommendations in the realm of digital health in the future.

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The Digital Health APPG aspires to stimulate public debate and inform policy making on the use of data and Digital technologies in delivering health services and supporting our citizens to strive to live healthy lives whilst supporting the UK economy. 

Championing Mental Health

Dean was honoured to be made an ambassador for the campaign 'Where's Your Head At?' recently and will use this opportunity to further discuss the importance of providing mental health support in every workplace.

Dean has regularly stated he wants Watford to become a 'Wellbeing Town' where mental wellbeing in the norm and loneliness has no place to hide.

As part of this ambition, Dean invited the Prime Minister to launch his Mental Health First Aid Scheme to train a thousand mental health first aiders with Watford Chamber of Commerce and local Churches, with the kind support of Camelot.

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If you would like to learn more about the scheme, please click here to find out more and register an interest. 

NHS Poster Competition

As a keen artist and along with auctioning art work for good causes, Dean was also pleased to team up with the Watford Observer to launch a competition for children to create posters to show their support for our tremendous NHS.

The quality and volume of entries clearly showed the respect and love for this amazing institution which we all rely on so heavily. Dean was grateful and inspired by everyone who entered sharing that 'The posters submitted really depicted the strength of feeling felt by the nation and showed a wonderful diversity in creativity.' 

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Congratulations to Stacey Stephenson for winning the competition. Stacey's contribution is shown here.

Dean's Local Campaigns