THE public is invited to get involved with a consultation on plans to build a new hospital in Basingstoke, with online and in-person events organised.

The NHS in Hampshire has launched a 14-week public consultation on plans to spend between £700m and £900m government funding on hospital services to transform healthcare for people and communities across the county.

READ MORE: NHS will spend millions on maintenance during wait for new Basingstoke hospital

The public, along with NHS staff, are encouraged to get involved and give their views on the proposals which include either building a new specialist acute hospital on the current Basingstoke hospital site in Aldermaston Road or near Junction 7 of the M3.

The new hospital would be used for specialist emergency care along with obstetrician-led maternity care and include a separate children’s emergency department. The plans also include investing in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, which would focus on planned operations and procedures.

A consultation document has been published online at hampshiretogether.nhs.uk.

Online and in-person events have now been organised including two in Basingstoke and Deane on Monday, January 15 at Basingstoke hospital from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and on Saturday, February 17 at Old Basing Village Hall from 9.30am to 11.30am.

The events are designed to listen to patients, communities, and staff to discuss the proposals and for people to share their views on how the plans might impact them and what could be improved.

SEE ALSO: New £800m specialist acute hospital to be built in Basingstoke

The events will start with a presentation followed by a Q&A session. Attendees will then split into groups to discuss the benefits, concerns, issues and potential mitigations, with each group assisted by a facilitator and scribe.

To book a place and for details of other listening events taking place visit hampshiretogether.nhs.uk or call 0300 561 0905.

Maggie MacIsaac, chief executive of NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “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 (HHFT), 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.”

READ ALSO: Why Basingstoke needs a new hospital - what it means for you

Dr Nick Ward, interim chief medical officer at HHFT, 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 ICB, said: “The doctor-led urgent treatment centres at both hospitals would see and treat around 60 per cent 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 hampshiretogether.nhs.uk for the consultation document and more information about how to get involved.