Sajid Javid meets West Hertfordshire hospital chiefs

Sajid Javid was joined by key representatives from West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Watford MP Dean Russell to find out more about how the trust wants to invest in its facilities.

The trust has been chosen as one of the first trusts eligible to receive funding in the Government's New Hospital Programme.

Its preferred option is to rebuild Watford General Hospital and invest in its St Albans and Hemel Hempstead hospitals but deputy chief executive Helen Brown has revealed that could cost as much as £1.2 billion.

The trust is putting together its outline business case, which is likely to be submitted later this year, but at this stage, it has no idea how much funding it will get to make plans a reality.

See more: Hospital redevelopment plans now estimated to cost around £1billion

How Watford General Hospital could be built in the form of three blocks (shown in grey). Credit: BDP/West Herts NHS Trust

However, the meeting in Westminster on April 11 was an opportunity for Ms Brown and trust chairman Phil Townsend to share their vision to one of the most key figures in the health department.

Mr Townsend said: "We were very grateful for the opportunity to present our 'shovel-ready' plans for our three hospitals. It was good to explain how our proposal addresses the urgent need to provide new and better buildings.

"With outline planning permission in place, plans for our services across our sites worked through and our multi-storey car park finished on time and on budget, it was easy for the Secretary of State to see how quickly we could move onto the construction phase at Watford."

See more: First look at Watford General Hospital's new car park

New multi-storey car park at Watford General Hospital. Credit: West Herts NHS Trust (Image: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

Mr Townsend said Mr Javid was also told the hospital's current buildings will be able to "function" while the new hospital is created and that staff "support" the trust's plans.

He added: "It was an encouraging meeting and we very much appreciate the time and attention given to our proposals."

The meeting came around two months after Mr Javid met another Conservative MP - Hemel Hempstead's Sir Mike Penning.

Sir Mike Penning, third from right, pictured with Health Secretary Sajid Javid and other campaigners in February who are calling for a hospital to be built away from Watford

Sir Mike is campaigning for a new hospital to be built on a site that is central to Watford, St Albans, and his town but the trust has decided not to pursue this option.

See more: Sir Mike Penning meets Health Secretary Sajid Javid