People needing lifesaving heart treatment as well as premature and very poorly babies are set to benefit from a £3 million-plus investment from that will transform care at St Peter’s Hospital.
The major funding is from the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). It will modernise and expand the Cardiac Catheter Lab and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to meet growing demand and give patients the very best start to recovery.
Delivered in partnership with Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the investment will help create brighter, more welcoming spaces for families, alongside cutting-edge clinical environments that enable hospital teams to carry out lifesaving work every day.
The Trust operates the leading heart intervention service in northwest Surrey, performing almost 4,400 complex and minimally invasive procedures in 2024 as demand continues to rise.
A £2.9 million upgrade to the Cardiac Catheter Lab, provided by Runnymede Borough Council, will allow more complex and minimally invasive heart procedures to be carried out more quickly and safely. Combined with an existing NHS allocation of £900,000, this investment will fund advanced new equipment and support earlier diagnosis and intervention, further improving patient outcomes.
Meanwhile, a £296,000 refurbishment of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will modernise and reconfigure the only Level 3 neonatal unit in Surrey, which provides specialist care for some of the smallest and sickest babies from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
The improvements will enhance facilities for both families and clinical teams, ensuring babies receive the very best start in life. Families will also benefit from upgraded rooms and facilities designed to offer greater comfort, privacy and reassurance during long and emotional periods of care. Energy-efficient design and new state-of-the-art equipment will help staff deliver the safest and most advanced treatment in modern surroundings.
Councillor Robert King, Chair of Runnymede Borough Council’s Corporate Management Committee, said:
“For families, the moments when a loved one needs specialist care are when the NHS matters most. That is why this investment we have championed at St Peter’s Hospital is so vital. £2.9 million will increase capacity and enhance life-saving cardiac care for people in Runnymede and across the wider community, while a further £296,000 will modernise the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Together, these improvements will strengthen care for some of the most vulnerable babies and adults, ensuring local people receive world-class treatment when they need it most.
“I am proud that, as the new administration in Runnymede, we have prioritised using infrastructure funding in a partnership with Ashford and St Peter’s which will deliver that real benefit for our NHS and our residents. This investment is about more than buildings or equipment, it is about building an NHS fit for the future, right here in Runnymede.”
Louise Stead, Chief Executive for Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals, said:
“We are delighted to receive this investment from Runnymede Borough Council, which will enable us to make important enhancements to two of our vital services which care for those in northwest Surrey and neighbouring areas. The funding will support the expansion of our Cardiac Catheter Lab and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, helping us to upgrade facilities and invest in advanced equipment that meets the growing needs of our local population.
“These improvements will strengthen our ability to deliver timely, life-saving care in modern, purpose-built environments. They also reflect our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and to working in partnership with our community. By investing in these services, we are ensuring that they can continue to deliver high-quality, compassionate care for everyone who needs it, now and in the years to come.”
This major funding boost represents one of the most significant local healthcare investments in recent years. The improvements will be delivered within the next two years, strengthening specialist care and ensuring patients continue to receive world-class treatment and compassion.
The Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy fund is a multi-million-pound pot of money paid into by developers which have built new homes or other buildings in the borough of Runnymede. Payments into the fund are to support infrastructure improvements related to population growth, meaning the funding is not based on Council Tax.
The move to support St Peter’s Hospital comes as the Council continues work to progress the sale of the Hythe Centre in Egham to a new owner who will bring the site back into health use, including plans for a new GP surgery. This demonstrates the Council’s ongoing commitment to improving local health facilities and supporting the wellbeing of residents, a key priority in its new Corporate Business Plan.
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