After considerable negotiations, the NHS has revealed the locations of two new potential sites for brand new hospitals that will replace Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary, as part of the New Hospital Programme.
The proposed site for the replacement of Royal Preston Hospital is land between Stanifield Lane and Wigan Road, south of Stoney Lane in Farington, near to the end of the M65 West.
The proposed site for the replacement Royal Lancaster Infirmary is Bailrigg East, situated north of and near Lancaster University.
The NHS has revealed the locations of two new potential sites for brand new hospitals that will replace Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary, as part of the New Hospital Programme
However, the NHS is open to other sites being suggested, which would be subject to the same comprehensive review as the proposed sites.
The existing Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary sites will remain in place and deliver services until new hospital facilities are opened.
The two new hospitals are part of a wider programme of work that is considering how clinical services are configured across all acute hospital sites in Lancashire and South Cumbria to meet the needs of the population now and in the future.
Securing our preferred site is a huge step forward in our bid to create a state-of-the-art new hospital to replace Royal Preston Hospital
Patients in the region are now set to benefit from cutting-edge facilities and modern healthcare through next-generation hospital facilities and technologies.
Professor Silas Nicholls, Chief Executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Securing our preferred site is a huge step forward in our bid to create a state-of-the-art new hospital to replace Royal Preston Hospital. This would provide major trauma and specialist services to the population of Lancashire and South Cumbria and acute hospital services to Central Lancashire.
"A new hospital will improve quality, safety and patient experience and have a transformative impact on the services we will be able to provide on-site and in our wider communities, so we can meet the needs of our patients and future generations.
"In addition, it would drive much-needed investment to the region, acting as the catalyst for future jobs, skills, research and further economic development opportunities."
Morag Stuart, Chief Programme Officer for the New Hospital Programme, said: "This is a significant step towards two brand-new hospitals to replace both Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary to benefit local people and NHS colleagues living and working in Lancashire and South Cumbria. The New Hospital Programme has been pleased to support the land acquisition process for these sites, which are two key milestones in our mission to transform the delivery of healthcare infrastructure and services."