11 December 2023

The NHS in Hampshire today launches a public consultation about how between £700 million and £900 million should be invested in hospital services to transform healthcare for people and communities across the county.

Patients, local people, and NHS staff are being encouraged to get involved and give their views on the proposals which include:

  • Building a brand new hospital on the current Basingstoke hospital site or near Junction 7 of the M3 for specialist and emergency care, such as strokes, heart attacks, trauma (treating life and limb threatening injuries), emergency surgery, obstetrician-led maternity care, and separate children’s emergency department
  • significantly investing in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester which would focus on planned operations and procedures, and provide a 24/7 doctor-led urgent treatment centre that would see and treat around 60% of the patients who currently go to Winchester A&E, same day emergency care services, and midwife led maternity services
  • continuing to deliver day-to-day hospital services such as outpatients, diagnostics, and therapy services from the main hospital sites

The consultation document, which provides more detail on the proposals, is now available at www.hampshiretogether.nhs.uk.

There are lots of ways people can get involved and have their say, including by attending online and in person listening events, inviting NHS colleagues to speak at community groups, or by completing a questionnaire which is available online and as a paper version.

The listening events that will be held before Christmas are:

  • Online event – Wednesday 13 December 2023, 2pm to 4pm
  • In person event in Winchester – Thursday 14 December 2023, 7pm to 9pm
  • In person event in Andover – Monday 18 December 2023, 10am to 12pm
  • In person event in Alton – Tuesday 19 December 2023, 1.30pm to 3.30pm

For full details and to book a place at one of the events, visit www.hampshiretogether.nhs.uk or call 0300 561 0905.

Details of additional events to be held in early 2024 are also available on the website.

Maggie MacIsaac, Chief Executive of NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said: “I’m delighted to launch our public consultation today. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve hospital facilities and hospital services across Hampshire for decades to come.

“We want to know what people think about the plans we have put forward to build a new hospital, invest in Winchester hospital, and our proposals for where services are provided from in the future.”

Alex Whitfield, Chief Executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We are thrilled to be included in the government’s New Hospital Programme which is providing such significant investment.

“The proposals we are now consulting on have been designed by clinicians, with patients and the public, and are based on clinical evidence and best practice. At their heart is the need to deliver safe, sustainable, high-quality services for the future, with sufficient specialist staff to run services well.”

Dr Nick Ward, Interim Chief Medical Officer at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a doctor, I want to deliver the very best care for patients. These proposals would help us to consistently provide better care for people by ensuring we have the right groups of services and specialists located together for when people need them.”

Dr Lara Alloway, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said: “The doctor-led urgent treatment centres at both hospitals would see and treat around 60% of people who currently go to A&E. Experienced clinical teams would treat suspected broken bones, serious but not life-threatening emergencies and injuries, cuts, stomach pains, rashes, high temperatures in children and adults, and urgent mental health concerns. The centres would provide urgent medical help dealing with many of the common problems people already go to our A&Es with.

“The proposed emergency department with trauma unit at the specialist acute hospital would see patients, most often brought in by ambulance, with life and limb-threatening injuries and conditions. Some urgent services such as for heart attacks are already only provided at the Basingstoke hospital site. Ultimately, we are proposing these changes to improve care and outcomes for patients.”

“We are interested in hearing what people have to say about our proposals – this is your NHS, please get involved and help shape it for the future.”

The consultation is open until midnight on Sunday 17 March 2024.

Visit www.hampshiretogether.nhs.uk for the consultation document and more information about how to get involved.