New North Hampshire Hospital - public consultation could start soon
Boss of regional NHS foundation trust gives details
Last updated 11th Nov 2020
A PUBLIC consultation over plans for a new hospital in Hampshire could be launched as soon as next January, it has been revealed.
NHS bosses have revealed a time scale for plans for a new hospital in the north of the county.
As previously reported, two sites have been identified for the new facility.
The first is located between Basingstoke and Winchester near to J7 of the M3 while the other option is the current site of Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
But before any decisions is taken residents will be asked to have their say on the scheme including on the location of the new hospital and the health services that will be provided.
Official document published by Hampshire County Council have revealed that the public consultation is currently planned for early 2021.
Speaking at the meeting of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee held this morning, Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Our decision is to take both these sites through the public consultation process that we are hoping to run in January, February and March and understand from the public what they believe would be the pros and cons of each of these sites.”
Councillors were also told that a final decision could be made between summer and autumn 2021.
If the proposals are agreed work would start in 2022 with the hospital set to open between 2026-2030.
The trust said that details, as well as podcast and videos are expected to be released as part of the public consultation while some meetings could be held online.
As previously reported, NHS bosses said they are looking forward to speaking to staff, patients and the public about the way services are delivered.
The trust previously said this includes making “significant investment” at Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester but further details on what this would be are yet to be disclosed.