Mayor urges new Health Secretary to release funding for Watford General Hospital rebuild

Watford’s Elected Mayor, Peter Taylor, has written to the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Yvette Cooper MP, urging the Government to release the vital funding needed to rebuild Watford General Hospital.

The hospital was identified as one of 40 hospitals due to be rebuilt by 2030, with that commitment reaffirmed by the Government in 2023 and 2025. However, construction is now not expected to begin until 2032, with completion not due until 2038 “at the earliest”.

In his letter, Mayor Taylor highlighted that the project has already taken significant steps forward, with land made available for the new facilities and planning permission granted.

He also pointed out that the Government’s own Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) visited the site in 2025 and said that they wanted to “get on with it [the rebuilding] as soon as possible”.

Mayor Taylor said that waiting another six years for construction to begin was simply too long for Watford residents.

“Multiple governments have promised funding to rebuild Watford General, but we’re still waiting for it to materialise,” said Mayor Taylor.

“The land is ready and planning permission has been granted. We have done the groundwork – now we need the investment to get construction underway.

“Waiting until 2032 to even start building is simply too long. Watford residents deserve a modern hospital, and we need to get on with this.”

Mayor Taylor has asked Yvette Cooper for a meeting to discuss the project and the investment needed to move the rebuild forward.

Click here to view his letter.