King’s Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital CEO Alice Webster says team ‘committed’ to ensuring new hospital opens as close to 2030 as possible
In her monthly Ward Round column, hospital CEO Alice Webster discusses establishing a revised timeline for the new hospital…
At the end of January, the Government’s New Hospital Programme (NHP) released its updated implementation plan, which confirmed that The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is a key project under this ambitious national initiative.
While this marks significant progress, the timescales provided in the plan suggest that our new hospital may not meet the previously set target of opening in 2030.
We remain committed to working closely with the national programme to establish a revised timeline, aiming to ensure the hospital opens as close to 2030 as possible.
Once we have confirmed these dates, we will share them with our staff, patients, and the wider community.
Our vision has always been clear: to provide a state-of-the-art healthcare facility for Lynn and the surrounding areas. This commitment remains unwavering, and our team of experts is working tirelessly to make it a reality.
We know that the government is particularly focused on helping hospitals affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), like ours, to expedite the development of new buildings.
This focus reinforces the importance of continuing our work, building on the strong foundation already in place to bring the new hospital to fruition.
The safety of our building remains our top priority and as part of the national programme, detailed site-by-site surveys are being commissioned for each RAAC-affected Trust, including The QEH.
I want to reassure you that we are taking every step necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our patients, staff, and visitors while we move forward with the new hospital plans.
I understand that the news of a delay may be concerning, and I am frequently asked by members of the public whether we will truly see a new hospital at The QEH.
We have a dedicated, skilled team working hard to make it a reality. And while there may be bumps along the way, our goal remains clear, and we will share updates with you as soon as we have more information to provide.
In more positive news, January also saw the announcement that The QEH has been awarded a prestigious gold award status by the National Joint Registry (NJR) for our outstanding commitment to patient safety and the quality of joint replacements.
This accolade is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our orthopaedic teams and we are extremely proud to see their efforts recognised at such a high level.
Patient safety has always been at the heart of everything we do at The QEH, and this award serves as an affirmation of our continued commitment to providing the highest standards of care.
As we continue to work towards a new hospital, we remain focused on maintaining and improving the quality of care for every patient who walks through our doors.
While we look forward to the future, we remain committed to ensuring that The QEH is a centre of excellence. Thank you for your continued support as we work towards a brighter healthcare future for Lynn and beyond.
