Agenda item

23.1     The Committee considered a report on the ESHT Capital Works Programme, which sets out the major works in ESHT sites as well as hospital equipment and ongoing repairs to infrastructure. Chris Hodgson, ESHT Director of Estates, introduced the report, highlighting the now-operational Sussex Surgical Centre (SSC) and it’s attached endoscopy unit; the cardiology programme; the refurbishment of the thrombolysis (East Dean) ward at EDGH; upgrades to radiology at the Conquest site; and £10.3m in grant funding for the upgrade of infrastructure such as electrical and ventilation systems and fire compartmentation on sites.

23.2     The Committee noted residents’ concerns about the need for repairs, especially to the roof, at Conquest Hospital, asked what proportion of the £10.3m grant funding was planned to be allocated across hospital sites.

23.3     Chris Hodgson responded that the funding was planned to be split across all three sites, and that repairs to the roof at Conquest Hospital were significant and ongoing; £350,000 had been spent in 2025 on repairs to the roof. The roof needed to be replaced, but funding so far had been insufficient to carry out a full replacement. Additionally, the majority of electrical infrastructure repairs would be conducted at the Conquest site, due to the way equipment is distributed throughout the site. There was not a large discrepancy in spending between EDGH and Conquest Hospital, but EDGH occupied an older site than Conquest, which meant more repairs were required. Andrew Strevens, ESHT Chief Finance Officer, noted that the £10.3m had been distributed between EDGH and Conquest Hospital, and exact figures could be provided to the Committee outside of the meeting.

23.4     The Committee asked what the impact of delays to the New Hospitals Programme has been on service provision at EDGH.

23.5     Chris Hodgson explained that ESHT is part of a number of replacement hospitals through the New Hospitals Programme, which is managed by the Department of Health and Social Care. The new hospital at EDGH was in Wave 2, which will now not commence until 2037, leaving a number of years to allocate that funding. The original plans involved all three hospital sites, but EDGH was at greatest risk due to the age of the site. This was the reason for securing critical infrastructure risk funding to repair the site, using ESHTs own funds and national funding. £750m was being allocated nationally over for four years for the programme, and they were confident this funding could be secured in future years also.

23.6     Andrew Strevens clarified that the £750m of national funding had been allocated across 7 regions nationally, and that the allocation for the South East was around £150m. Within the funding, ESHT were given indicative allocations of expected funding per hospital, as well as expected funding for critical infrastructure risk. The estates team had drawn up a 10-year plan in terms of the infrastructure that needs to be replaced and modified, which would be used as a basis for placing funding bids.

23.7     The Committee noted from previous site visits to Conquest Hospital, a number of tiles missing from the ceiling, and commented that this impacts patients’ perceptions of care.

23.8     Chris Hodgson responded that ongoing works on fire compartmentation meant it was necessary to keep the ceilings open longer than expected. Other works were being carried out, such as a new system for oxygen supply being installed, but that they would be replaced as soon as possible and there were plans in place to do so.

23.9     The Committee RESOLVED to:

1)    note the report; and

2)    receive a written briefing for circulation containing further developments, information about digital infrastructure, and a breakdown of project spending.