Fresh images of the proposed new Hillingdon Hospital have been published, giving West London residents an updated look at a £1.5 billion redevelopment with work to begin by 2030.
The project is part of the government’s New Hospitals Programme, with Hillingdon Hospital listed among 16 schemes expected to start in the first wave of hospital redevelopments. The latest version of the design has been revised to meet new national guidance on how major hospital departments should be planned and laid out.
That means the hospital now looks different from the version approved earlier, with the trust saying the updated proposal includes a larger building.
What has changed in the new design
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Trust says the new hospital would have 538 overnight beds, all in single en-suite rooms. The trust says this is intended to give patients more privacy and comfort.
The redesign also aims to make the building more adaptable over time. According to the trust, the hospital has been planned to be “future proof”, so it can respond to changes in healthcare and patient needs in the years ahead.
Another notable change is that the proposed hospital would have no basement. The trust says this would mean staff work only in above-ground areas, with access to natural light and daylight, creating what it describes as a better working environment.
Energy centre and national design rules
A new energy centre is also included in the plans. It would generate and manage the heat, cooling, steam and electricity needed across the hospital site.
The redesign follows updated national guidance covering key parts of hospital care, including emergency care, inpatient wards, operating theatres, maternity services, diagnostics and outpatient services. The guidance was developed with input from more than 1,000 clinicians, Royal Colleges, healthcare staff and patients.
Hillingdon Hospital was previously described by the Defence Secretary as the “worst I’ve seen”. The rebuild is intended to replace the existing site with a new facility designed around the latest standards.
How residents can have their say
The trust is now asking patients and local communities for their views before it submits a new planning application to Hillingdon Council. People who want to take part are being directed to the Hillingdon Hospital NHS site, where details of the plans and consultation are available.
The deadline for comments is Sunday, December 13.
Lesley Watts, Chief Executive of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is an opportunity to transform healthcare for generations to come.” She added: “A new hospital will give us the environment and technology to deliver high-quality care and make a real difference to the experience of everyone who comes through our doors. I encourage our patients and local communities to look at the plans, attend an event and share their views so we can ensure the new hospital meets their needs.”
For people in Hillingdon and the wider West London area, the immediate next step is the consultation rather than construction.
