Frequently Asked Questions

What’s happening at the moment with the project?
The plans to redevelop Townlands Hospital will shortly be at the ‘Invitation to Participate in Dialogue Stage.’ This means we are looking at outline solutions (or plans) submitted by developers who have the ability and capacity to deliver the project. NHS Oxfordshire will evaluate the outline business solutions, decide which plans are best and who is best qualified to take on the work. Shortlisted bidders will then enter a period of dialogue with NHS Oxfordshire when these solutions will be further developed. The final tenders will be submitted and evaluated in September 2010.
When will work start?
We expect to get initial outlines of what the re-provided hospital will look like by April 2010. These will be short-listed and developed during the summer and the recommendations will then go to NHS Oxfordshire’s Board in November 2010. The contract then needs to be signed and, subject to planning permission, we would expect to start the building work in the summer of 2011.
When will it be finished?
We expect building work to start in the summer of 2011 and would hope it to be complete one to two years after that.
Why can’t we know more about what’s going on?
We’re in the middle of a procurement process which is the method we use to choose who will get the contract to redevelop the facilities. A necessary part of the procurement process is confidentiality. As a result, we can’t tell anyone how many bidders we have or any details about what sort of plans they are submitting, otherwise we could jeopardise the process.
Will the new hospital be on the same site?
Would-be bidders will come up with solutions which may mean keeping the hospital on the same site or re-locating it elsewhere. We will look at all the options. At this stage we do not know what the preferred option will be.
Will we keep all the services we have now?
The new hospital will provide all the existing healthcare services and therapies, which will include an out patients clinic, a first aid unit and X ray services.
Will we keep our hospital beds?
The new hospital will provide all the services currently in existence in Townlands. This includes the intermediate care beds.
Townlands is right in the middle of Henley, how will you ensure traffic will be managed during the build and beyond?
We are aware that the project is in a busy, residential area and we are working with local residents through our community forum (Townlands Community Group) to ensure we consider all traffic implications during the build and in the future.
NHS Oxfordshire is also working with all the relevant planning and highway authorities to produce a ‘planning framework’ for the Townlands site to ensure we do everything possible to minimise uncertainty
There are listed buildings on the current site and lots of wildlife. How will you ensure they are all protected?
We are working closely with architects and planners on the planning framework for Townlands all of whom are very experienced in dealing with sites of special environmental and architectural interest. All efforts will be taken to ensure we keep and integrate listed buildings and we will take steps to ensure the welfare of all trees, plants, and animal life on the site.
There’s a lot of talk nationally about public spending cuts, will the hospital plan be affected?
NHS Oxfordshire is very committed to this scheme. The money for it has been safe guarded and is in a current budget. Recently, our Interim Chief Executive, Matthew Tait, who is also our former Director of Finance, repeated his commitment to the re-development and underlined again that the money was still available.
What does the Townlands Community Group do?
A key part of the project’s success lies with ‘community acceptability.’ This means we need to ensure the new facilities we develop are, as much as possible, what the people of Henley and surrounding areas want. As a result, we need to hear first hand from as many people as possible. We want to know what people think about the plans and we need to listen to any concerns or issues that the local community has. Without this input the project cannot work properly. The Townlands Community Group (TCG) has been formed as a direct way of exchanging information and letting us know what the community thinks.

The TCG was formed last summer and is Chaired by Cllr Ian Reissmann. Ian is well known in Henley as a former mayor, a member of Henley Town Council and as chair of the Townlands Steering Group – the group which has also worked with NHS Oxfordshire to ensure the future of local health facilities.


Two representatives from the TCG also sit on NHS Oxfordshire’s Henley (Townlands) Project Board. The two representatives are Ian Reissmann and Dave Smewing. This gives the group a direct voice on the main decision making body within the NHS.

The TCG meets bi-monthly, or more often if required, and meets in public.

For more information please contact:

Cathryn Bullimore Communications Manager
NHS Oxfordshire
cathryn.bullimore@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk

01865 334648
0791 783 7264