Budget to be set for new Royal Berkshire Hospital

Meetings with the government take place today (Tuesday, April 30) to determine the budget allocation for a planned new hospital in Berkshire.

Health chiefs are meeting Treasury officials to agree the final funding allocation and the timing of schemes – and will then be told of the outcome in May.

The Royal Berkshire Hospital is on a list of new hospital builds – but the RBH schedule was shifted back to 2031.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust wants a new hospital on a new site, saying its current site is challenging to build on, has potential planning issues and underground challenges that will increase costs.

Between January and March this year, more than 2,400 people responded to a survey on the alternative sites at Thames Valley Science Park and Thames Valley Park.

The trust will now be exploring how alternative locations impact staff, patients and communities.