Annual Report 2003-2004: Looking to the Future
Looking to the Future
Watford Health Campus
Members of the public and local community have been having their say about the Masterplan being drawn up for the Watford Health Campus (www.watfordhealthcampus.info).
The innovative idea will spearhead the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital, and provide an exciting mix of health, leisure and sporting facilities, together with environmental improvements and new job opportunities.
There was an exhibition of the information gathered by the Masterplan Team so far and how that is influencing the way the Health Campus could be developed.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Rosie Sanderson said: "Working together, six different organisations are developing ideas of how Watford General and the land around it could change over the next 10 years. It is a big project and needs big ideas. The views of the local community are crucial to achieving a successful outcome.
"What is a health campus? What does it mean for Watford Hospital and the services provided there? What does it mean for the Football Club? Most importantly, how does it affect the local community? These are just some of the issues we hope to deal with when people come along to our exhibition.
"This is the first step in a process through which the idea of the Health Campus and the views of the partner organisations will be discussed with the communities affected by the proposal. We know that the idea of the Health Campus is new and challenging; all of us have to find ways of working with new colleagues and find new ways of delivering services. The views expressed at this exhibition will help all of us to take the project forward."
The six organisations who are working together (listed below) each has something different to contribute but are all committed to the goals of better health services, a secure future for the football club and making west Watford a better place to live, work and visit.
"Knowing that the Council is behind our plans for the future of Watford General and that we are working with a wide range of colleagues both within the health service and other agencies, gives the Trust great confidence in the future of the services here at Watford," said David Law.
Graham Simpson, Chairman of Watford Football Club said: "This is a fantastic and unique opportunity for our town. Being a partner in the Health Campus enables us to be part of a venture that will deliver significant health, education, leisure and environmental benefits for our community and help underpin our future as a family and community club."
After the exhibition all the views recorded was collated and used to help refine the ideas of the Master-plan Team. The results will be posted on the website (www.watfordhealthcampus.info) and will be included when the next stage of the process is reported back to the community probably in September and to Watford Council later in the year.
The six partner organisations behind the Health Campus are:
- West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust
- Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care NHS Trust
- Watford Borough Council
- Watford Football Club:: East of England Development Agency
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