Leader statement on St Mary's Hospital

The Leader of Westminster City Council, Cllr Adam Hug said:

We are deeply disappointed that, following the Department of Heath’s latest announcement, essential redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital is at the moment not set to start until 2035.

We recognise the incredibly challenging state of the public finances the Government faces and the fact that the previous government had not committed the future funding needed to deliver the redevelopment of St Mary's.

“However St Mary's is a unique case, not only due to the age of the current buildings stretching back to the Victorian era, but also because of its commercial potential and ability to substantially contribute to reducing the expected £2bn plus cost of redevelopment. With support the hospital can unlock much wider economic growth potential through the Paddington Life Sciences project and reduce the strain on the public purse.

“It is essential therefore that the Government gives the green light to the necessary funding to enable Imperial College Healthcare to continue developing its business case and provide a commitment that there will be the opportunity to move the scheme forward more swiftly on the basis of a comprehensive and creative plan for St Mary's and its surrounding economic opportunities.

“We need to keep moving forwards in order to support London's busiest major trauma centre, their vital life science partnerships work and care for more than a million patients a year."

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, made an announcement in the House of Commons on 20th January outlining the outcome of the review of the New Hospital Programme, including an updated timeline for existing schemes. St Mary’s, Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals have been included in the third wave, which would see building starting between 2035 and 2039.

The Trust's statement can be found here: Statement in response to New Hospital Programme announcement | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust