Scrutiny Committee Examines Plans for New Frimley Park Hospital Amid Public Concern
A joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting examining plans for the new Frimley Park Hospital highlighted growing public interest in the project, alongside concerns over transparency, communication, and the site selection process.
The meeting brought together representatives from Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB), and local authorities including Surrey County Council, Hampshire County Council, and Bracknell Forest Council.
While NHS leaders reiterated that no final decision has yet been made on the hospital’s location, residents and councillors raised questions about the level of public engagement and the methodology used to narrow potential sites.
Community concerns over engagement and transparency
A member of the public challenged the NHS representatives on the level of community engagement so far.
They argued that consultation had been minimal and criticised what they described as a lack of transparency in the process.
“We have gone straight from being asked about criteria to a preferred site with zero interim engagement and zero information on why this option is preferred over others.”
The speaker also highlighted that the earlier consultation had received around 4,000 responses, which they said represented just 4% of the population of Surrey Heath alone.
They warned that the perceived lack of transparency had damaged trust in the process.
“The problem with lack of transparency is that no one knows what has been looked at or decided and there is no trust in the process.”
NHS response: engagement will increase
Frimley Health’s Director of Communications and Engagement, Kirk Ward, acknowledged the concerns and said the organisation was committed to ongoing engagement.
“We are absolutely committed to engaging with patients, public, staff and elected representatives throughout the life of this hospital build.”
Ward emphasised that engagement would continue after a preferred site is announced.
“It’s not a big bang announcement and then that’s the last you’ll hear.”
However, he also clarified that the public would not vote on the site choice.
“We’re not going to be announcing a preferred site and then holding a referendum on whether people agree with that.”
This comment appeared to reinforce concerns among some attendees that public influence over the decision itself may be limited.
Transport modelling questioned
Another issue raised during the session concerned how transport access is being evaluated.
A supplementary question asked what detailed modelling had been undertaken before selecting a preferred site, given that transport and access carry a 14% weighting in the site selection criteria.
Alex White, Programme Director for Frimley Health, said initial assessments had been carried out.
“During the site selection process we have undertaken desktop studies and analysis covering all of the points raised.”
However, he confirmed that more detailed modelling would only occur after a preferred site is chosen, once surveys and further analysis can be undertaken.
This response prompted concern among some councillors and residents, who questioned how the weighting could be robust if detailed transport analysis has not yet been completed.
Why the current hospital site was rejected
The committee also pressed the NHS to explain why rebuilding on the existing Frimley Park Hospital site had been ruled out.
NHS representatives said extensive analysis had been conducted and concluded that rebuilding on the current site would be extremely difficult.
Reasons cited included:
- disruption to ongoing hospital operations
- construction complexity
- higher costs
- longer timelines
However, committee members asked for more detailed evidence to be shared publicly, suggesting the explanation so far has not been sufficiently clear.
Timeline for the new hospital
The NHS outlined the current timeline for the project:
- Summer 2026: Preferred site announcement (subject to approvals)
- 2027: Planning consultation and application
- 2028–2029: Construction expected to begin
- 2032–2033: Hospital opening
The hospital rebuild is part of the national New Hospital Programme and is being prioritised because the current building contains reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Government officials said updated analysis shows the hospital can safely operate beyond 2030 with mitigation measures, although replacement remains a priority.
Major NHS restructuring also discussed
The meeting also addressed significant organisational changes in the NHS.
The Frimley Integrated Care Board will be dissolved in April 2026, with responsibilities split between three new bodies:
- Thames Valley ICB
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB
- Surrey and Sussex ICB
Officials insisted these structural changes would not affect patient access to Frimley Park Hospital.
“There is no change to access planned at all as a result of the changes to integrated care board boundaries.”
Concerns about waiting times
Councillors also raised concerns about current treatment delays at Frimley Health.
Referral-to-treatment performance is currently around 57% within 18 weeks, compared with the NHS target of 92%.
Hospital leaders said they aim to reach:
- 60% by the end of the current financial year
- 67% by next year
They cited expanded theatre capacity and efficiency improvements as part of the recovery plan.
Communication criticised
Several councillors argued that communication around the project has been poor, contributing to rumours about site decisions.
One councillor warned that residents already believe the location has been chosen.
“People genuinely believe that a site has been selected and that needs to be remedied.”
NHS representatives acknowledged the criticism and said clearer communication about the process would be introduced.
Key unanswered questions
Despite the detailed presentation, several issues remain unresolved:
1. How robust is the site selection process?
Detailed transport modelling and site analysis will occur after the preferred site announcement, raising questions about how the current scoring was calculated.
2. What evidence led to the rejection of rebuilding on the existing site?
Councillors requested full disclosure of the analysis, which has not yet been publicly provided.
3. How much influence will public engagement have?
Officials confirmed engagement will continue, but also stated there will not be a referendum or public vote on the site.
4. Can the project realistically meet its timeline?
Construction is expected to start in 2028–29, but delays could force reconsideration due to the ageing RAAC structure.
5. How will public consultation be conducted?
The NHS says it will involve independent analysis and wider outreach, but the exact consultation framework is still in draft form.
Next steps
The committee requested:
- A detailed briefing on hospital demand and capacity modelling
- Ongoing monitoring of the health service transformation programme
The next scrutiny meeting date has not yet been confirmed.
Watch the full meeting on Paul Deach’s channel here:
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