Local health group slams health hub proposal

A local health group has accused NHS bosses and Dacorum Council of reneging on a pledge by Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, that the public would be consulted over the closure of Hemel Hempstead Hospital.

In June, the Prime Minister promised Hemel MP David Taylor in the House of Commons that there would be ‘public consultation’ over the possible replacement of the 200-year-old hospital with a ‘health hub’ or ‘campus’ in the town’s Market Square.

Philip Aylett, Chair of the Dacorum Health Action Group (DHAG), which wants better services for the Borough, said: ‘In rushing forward with the closure of our hospital, NHS managers and Dacorum Borough Council have shown contempt for local people.

‘Keir Starmer made a clear promise to David Taylor that there would be public consultation over the NHS and council plans to flatten the hospital and squeeze all services into a single Market Square ‘hub’ block. That process would have given us a proper chance to consider the alternative of developing part of the current hospital site.’ 

But Dr Aylett said the NHS had instead indulged in ‘a charade of public involvement, showing that the Prime Minister’s parliamentary promise has counted for nothing with the unelected NHS managers. Dacorum councillors, now in a partnership with the NHS to promote the hub, have actively supported them.’

Dr Aylett said the problems with the hub idea included inadequate parking, especially for those with poor mobility and other medical conditions. 

‘The last time the NHS considered the future of Hemel’s hospital services, the idea of a Market Square hub was rated the very worst possible option. What has happened to make it the authorities’ preferred way forward?’ he asked.

In a statement, Dacorum Borough Council responded: ‘The local NHS and Dacorum Borough Council have been working together to design services and healthcare which better meet the needs of our residents and deliver the joined up, accessible and tailored approach residents tell us they value most.

Several options have been assessed in the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) and put forward to the review process where it will be considered by councillors and NHS boards before a decision is made on the preferred option.

Over the last four months, almost 8,000 people have engaged directly with the project proposals through the dedicated health campus microsite, face-to-face events, and public survey, to provide their feedback.

‘We will continue to engage with patients and the wider public as we progress through the stages of the project, which is publicly available at letstalk.dacorum.gov.uk/hemel-health-campus.’

Pic: An artist’s impression of the health hub