Our journey so far
In November 2025, our Strategic Outline Case (SOC), which explains why a new hospital is needed and how it will be delivered, was approved by the Government. The SOC was approved by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHCS) Joint Investment Committee in October and given the final clearance by DHSC’s Ministers at the end of last week.
This approval give The QEH the green light to continue to progress plans for a new hospital.
Our Strategic Outline Case (SOC) is an important document which brings the reality of a new hospital one step closer. It outlines the need for a new state-of-the-art hospital to be built on the current site. Within this document the current site was identified as the best location for the new hospital after an extensive assessment of six possible sites, including the current location and five alternatives. Working with NHS England and the Borough Council, the QEH team scrutinised these sites against a range of criteria including size, access, and their inclusion in the Local Development Plan. Following a robust assessment, the current site emerged as the clear choice, offering a deliverable programme period, value for money and the best potential for patient care, both in the future and until the new hospital opens for business.
,The SOC focuses on ensuring that QEH is best placed to continue to fulfil its role in the area while improving clinical outcomes and patient, visitor and staff experience in a hospital that is fit for many decades to come.
It sets out our preferred new hospital scheme for a single-phase new build on our existing hospital site. This option brings the least disruption to patients and staff during the build and construction period and also provides best value for money and return on investment.
Our preferred new hospital scheme will help to ensure that there is always a District General Hospital in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, delivering core services to our population. The new hospital would provide a once in a generation opportunity to transform and modernise healthcare, recognising historic under-investment in health and care in this part of the region.
Consistent with our Clinical Strategy, it would enable QEH to become a centre of excellence for frailty and stroke, day surgery and regional anaesthesia, research and innovation, and same day emergency care.
We are now working to develop an outline and full business case. Enabling works have already begun on site, and work is due to begin on our key enabling project, a new multi-storey car park, in June 2026.