A public consultation has been launched to help determine the future location of the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital has been assessing the future of the hospital in Craven Road, Reading ever since its incorporation into the government’s New Hospital Programme.

Since its selection in October 2020, the trust has been exploring the possibility of either redeveloping the current site, moving to a new location either in South Reading or Shinfield, or a mixture of the two.

The new location could either be at Green Park in Whitley, or at the Thames Valley Science Park in Wokingham Borough.

Now, the trust has launched an official survey to guage public opinion on a possible relocation.

Respondents are asked to rank the options the Trust has for the new hospital site in order of preference.

The survey states: “The Trust must decide on a location where it will build/develop the new facilities for its services.

  1. Must be in the same location as now
  2. A new hospital in a different location from the current hospital site would be best
  3. A new hospital in a different location which is no more than five miles from the current site
  4. Hospital services can be split and delivered from different locations
  5. Location is not a priority.”

The process of planning for a new hospital in Reading has been undertaken since October 2020 as part of the Building Berkshire Together programme.

Commenting on the reason for the survey, Allison Foster, the programme’s director, said: “It is a complicated process to get to a shortlist and we want to make sure we have the latest intelligence about what health services the local population would like to receive, where and how”

“We are working hard to reach every corner of Berkshire and South Oxfordshire to speak to communities who will use and benefit from a modern, fit for purpose, healthcare facility to deliver excellent clinical care in the 21st century.”

The survey also asks respondents to rank the priorities of care they feel are most important, such as emergency, urgent and cancer care, and where they prefer to receive non-emergency care, such as at home, at a GP or at the current hospital.

You can fill it out here.

The survey is open until March 6.

Printed, translated and Easy Read copies of the survey can be requested by calling 0118 322 6630 or emailing bbt@royalberkshire.nhs.uk.

The New Hospitals Programme was announced by the government in 2020, with the aim of delivering 48 hospitals by 2030.

Although it is unclear how much investment the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust will receive from the government for its project, an update from Her Majesty’s Treasure on the level of investment is expected next month.