Whittington Health NHS Trust has approved £34.57m in capital funding for the first phase of a wider redevelopment of maternity and neonatal facilities at Whittington Hospital in North London.
The investment forms part of an approximately £84m programme to transform the hospital's maternity and neonatal services.
The Trust Board has approved the first Outline Business Case for the Start Well Estates programme, releasing funding for Phase 0 of the redevelopment.
The wider programme will modernise maternity and neonatal facilities, increase neonatal capacity and improve the environment for women, pregnant people, babies and families.
£34.57m first phase
The £34.57m investment will fund enabling works required before the main redevelopment can progress.
Preparatory work has already begun, including the demolition of the hospital's former chimney and energy centre and the relocation of the chapel from near the Labour Ward to the Jenner Building.
A major element of Phase 0 will be the creation of temporary neonatal facilities.
The temporary unit will allow the existing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Baby Unit to relocate while their permanent replacement facilities are constructed.
The temporary facilities will also allow neonatal services to continue away from noise and construction vibration as the redevelopment progresses.
Phase 0 is expected to be completed in October 2027.
Whittington Health said maternity and neonatal services will remain open throughout the redevelopment, with construction delivered in phases to minimise disruption to clinical services.
“We expect redevelopment works to start later in 2026. Until then, and throughout construction, our services remain open," said Isabelle Cornet, Director of Midwifery at Whittington Health NHS Trust.
Wider £84m programme
The first phase forms part of a wider programme expected to involve approximately £49m of additional capital investment across Phases 1A, 1B and 1C.
Phase 1A will include a new permanent neonatal unit, refurbishment of the Women's Day Unit, Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit and postnatal ward, as well as interim maternity triage facilities and supporting accommodation.
Later phases will include further improvements to maternity triage and the Labour Ward, alongside work to the hospital's main entrance.
Together, the £34.57m approved for Phase 0 and the approximately £49m expected for the subsequent phases represent around £84m of investment in the hospital's maternity and neonatal facilities.
The redevelopment is being delivered in stages because construction will take place within the operational hospital.
Whittington Health said clinical oversight, transition planning and regular quality reviews will be used throughout the programme to protect safety and patient experience.
“This is the start of a really important period of change for Whittington Hospital, and I am looking forward to seeing the plans we have been developing with our clinical teams begin to become a reality,” said Selina Douglas, Chief Executive of Whittington Health NHS Trust.
