£2m appeal for cardiology equipement

A £2 million fundraising target has been set to help create a new state-of-the-art cardiology facility at Wycombe Hospital.

The appeal has been launched by Scannappeal as the hospital prepares for a major transformation, including the construction of a new £20 million building on the site.

Money raised through donations will help fund new diagnostic and treatment equipment, including advanced imaging technology and tools for minimally invasive procedures.

Scannappeal raises funds to purchase life-saving medical equipment for hospitals across Buckinghamshire, including Amersham, Stoke Mandeville, Wycombe and community hospitals.

Dr Rodney De Palma FRCP, SDU Cardiology Lead at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “The new cardiology service within these facilities will extend the ability to provide life-changing care for patients around-the-clock and will increase access to both planned and front door emergency care.

“The technology funded through Scannappeal will give us the state-of-the-art tools needed to enhance health and fight heart disease.

“This is a huge step forward for cardiovascular care in Buckinghamshire, and I hope the community will rally to support one of the most consequential healthcare developments the county has seen for generations.”

It comes after planning permission was approved by Buckinghamshire Council for a new hospital building on car park B at the site, paving the way for the first phase of a major redevelopment.

The new six-storey building is designed to address the poor condition of the existing tower block which houses key clinical services, and will begin the phased relocation of services into a modern, purpose-built facility.

Behind the redevelopment lies mounting maintenance pressure across the NHS estate. The trust has acknowledged more than £260 million in overdue maintenance, with Wycombe Hospital accounting for a large proportion of its highest-risk issues.

The initial £20 million investment, funded by NHS England, will deliver a new Endoscopy Department as part of the hospital’s wider regeneration. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with patients welcomed to the new facility by 2027.

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust said the project was among the most ambitious hospital developments outside the Government’s New Hospital Programme, which did not include Wycombe Hospital.

The trust said the new building would provide modern, welcoming spaces for patients and staff, while allowing services to be moved out of the ageing tower block.

Subject to further funding, remaining departments – including cardiology, stroke services, theatres and critical care – would also be relocated.

It comes against a backdrop of ongoing pressure from residents and councillors in the town for the return of a full accident and emergency service at Wycombe Hospital.

However, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has confirmed its position that reopening a full A&E service would not be clinically or financially viable.

Currently, patients requiring emergency treatment are directed to hospitals including Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Wexham Park Hospital or Oxford University Hospitals, journeys which can take between 30 and 45 minutes.