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Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, today gave the go ahead for a £451 million hospital development, which will play a key part in the transformation of health services for the communities of Liverpool.

A new state-of-the-art hospital will be developed to replace the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. The plans for the new Royal will provide the People of Liverpool with:

• All patient accommodation in en-suite single rooms, which improve infection control and offer more privacy – it will be the largest hospital in the country to provide only single-rooms
• A more welcoming and modern building, which will be secure and as safe as possible
• A more attractive site, which will be easier to navigate and will mean that wards and departments are better located within the building, improving the experience of patients and visitors.
• More natural light and attractive interiors, using art and design features 
• A large landscaped area, providing a permanent public green space the size of Chavasse Park
• Improved access for public transport

Read more about the new hospital here.

The Trust has consulted closely with patients, the public and staff in planning the new hospital and what they wanted from a new Royal. Local people and patients will be encouraged to contribute to the ongoing plans and designs for the new hospital, including a new large landscaped area, about the same size of Chavasse Park, creating a permanent public park for the community.

Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health, said: "This investment will help Liverpool lead the way in providing state-of-the-art high-quality services for patients in the North-West. The announcement today helps the local NHS make the best use of its resources and shows our NHS staff that we value what they do by giving them the best possible working environment. It also gives something back to the wider community by creating open green spaces that will be enjoyed for years to come.

"We cannot let health services stand still. Across the country, the NHS is having to look at new ways to best provide healthcare in the future. Where people have had the courage to propose innovative changes that will improve services for patients and make them safer, the Government should support them. I am here today to give my personal backing for this development, and to recognise the hard work of those who have brought us to this point of being able to announce such a key scheme for these communities in the North West."

Judith Greensmith, chair, said: “We are all absolutely delighted. This is fantastic news for the people of Liverpool and beyond and means that our patients will be cared for in world-class facilities by staff providing high-quality services.

“The people of Merseyside told us that they wanted a new hospital and we can now deliver the best possible building and services for them well into the future. It is local people who have made a new Royal possible. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to local people and our partner organisations for their continued support for the new Royal.

“The new Royal will be a landmark building for Liverpool and means that we can continue to lead the way when it comes to research and innovation.”

Tony Bell, chief executive, added: “The new Royal will be cutting-edge and will change the face of healthcare in the city. It will allow us to provide healthcare in a 21st century building, with improved standards for clinical research facilities. This is part of a much broader vision for Liverpool and the city region.

“The new hospital represents a crucial step towards the development of a biomedical campus on site, developing new treatments through research and a hub for the future of health science research in the north-west.”

The go-ahead from the Government means that the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust can now begin the next phase of the project. This involves a rigorous process to secure a construction partner, which takes up to two years. Work should begin on the new Royal in 2012, with completion in 2016.

Chair of Liverpool PCT, Gideon Ben-Tovim, added: “We are very pleased that a new Royal will be built for the people of Merseyside. The new Royal is part of a wider strategy for a New Health Service for Liverpool and means that patients will receive the best possible treatments in a modern hospital well into the future.”

You can send in your views, ideas for the new Royal or ask a question via the Trust’s website at www.rlbuht.nhs.uk or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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